Millennium boy one decade on

Tuatahi Melsom was desperately ill at birth but is now healthy and celebrated his 10th birthday on Friday. Photo / Bruce Mercer

Tuatahi Melsom turned 10 on Friday. It was a typically big family gathering, with lots of aunties, uncles, cousins, and three big sisters to share in the celebrations with his parents.

For Tuatahi's mother, Vanessa Edwards, the birthday marked something more than a decade of milestones. It took her back to the night her son was born - and almost died. And it meant 10 years since Tuatahi unwittingly became the focus of international attention as the Millennium Boy: the first child to be born in the year 2000.

His arrival sparked a huge media bidding battle as magazines vied for the first and exclusive shots of the baby boy born at 12.01am on January 1, 2000. But, when Edwards looks back on his arrival and the events that ensued, her most significant memories are those of the fear she had for the wellbeing of her fourth child.

Tuatahi Manaakitanga Melsom was born with a heart defect. He needed two operations in the first two fragile weeks of his life.

Today, he is a robust and healthy 10-year-old; no longer in need of medical attention. "He's a 10-year-old who wants everything. He's into sports: basketball, softball; he's tried his hand at touch rugby," says Edwards.

This is the child whose parents were told he would have to avoid contact sports because of his heart condition. He likes school, too: "He loves maths, loves the computer, loves writing stories: making them up and writing them down," says Edwards. "He's picked up reading this year."

Life has had a few ups and downs, says Edwards. She and Tuatahi's father, Jason Melsom, are no longer together. Tuatahi now lives with his mother and three sisters in Pirongia, Waikato. Melsom lives in nearby Hamilton and sees his children at weekends.

Tuatahi was the boy Edwards had always wanted. He was due on New Year's Eve, but his mother was hoping he would arrive around Christmas. "Any time before New Year, because there was so much hype around this particular child being born and I didn't want to be part of it."

When she went into labour around 6pm on New Year's Eve, she thought she'd be "home and hosed and out of there before midnight". Events would, however, unfold in a more dramatic fashion.

Her newborn son was rushed from Waitakere Hospital to Green Lane Hospital for the first of two life-saving operations, while Edwards was transferred to the adjacent National Women's Hospital because of post-birth complications. A frantic Melsom was racing between hospitals as their baby's condition deteriorated.

The last thing she sought or desired was any public attention, Edwards now says. "I knew why the fuss was happening, because that's the time it was, but to me he was my baby and he was very sick and it was touch and go. When you are told you could lose him, it's quite horrific for a mother."

As the first baby of the millennium, Tuatahi was tipped to have great earnings potential. One deal for about $30,000 was struck with Woman's Day magazine, but Edwards says she was not comfortable with such cash deals.

"The media thing is just not me. I'm not that kind of person," she says.

And Tuatahi doesn't get any special treatment from his siblings. "His sisters think he's spoiled ... but he's not ... I don't have a lot of money, but the one thing I can give them is love and respect for themselves and others."

Tuatahi is up a tree, climbing, when the Herald on Sunday calls.

He says he is a "little bit" excited about his birthday. His birth date, he allows, has extra significance. "It makes me feel kinda special."

He was excited about his birthday visit to the local go-karting track.

Edwards is just happy he's able to enjoy such pursuits.

"His health is fine as far as his heart condition goes. He'll always have the [heart] murmur - but he's fine."