NZ mum mourns husband, two girls

The bodies of Emmanuel Rejouis and either Zenzie (left) or Kofie-Jade have been recovered. The other daughter is still missing. Photo / Supplied

While doctors tend to her injured toddler, a Kiwi mother is in the Dominican Republic grappling with the loss of her husband and two eldest daughters in the Haitian earthquake.

Alyanah Sanson-Rejouis, 2, was pulled alive from the rubble of the Port-au-Prince hotel where the family lived, after Wednesday's quake.

Yesterday the body of her father, Emmanuel Rejouis, was found, along with one of her sisters. It is not known if this was Kofie-Jade, 5, or Zenzie, 4, but both are presumed dead.

Emily Sanson-Rejouis, 37, was working in the United Nations office in the Haitian capital when the quake struck, and rushed to look for her family when tremors stopped.

Yesterday, her half-brother Jamie Larnach said the family were grieving for three of their members.

"The family are grieving at the deaths of Emmanuel, Kofie-Jade and Zenzie. Emily and Alyanah are safe in the Dominican Republic, where Alyanah has been receiving medical attention for a fractured leg."

Mrs Sanson-Rejouis' sister Rachel Sanson, father Roger Sanson and mother Jennie Wilson were on their way to be with the mother and daughter.

After thanking the New Zealand public and media for their help directing aid and attracting Government support, Mr Larnach requested privacy so the family could grieve.

He said his half-sister was well supported and they were communicating with her through family members.

"Efforts of the wider family are being directed to care for Emily and Alyanah and in co-ordinating the recovery and repatriation of the family."

There had been confusion over whether Mr Rejouis' body had been found because of a break in communication on Thursday, Mr Larnach said.

His sister Caroline Larnach was reluctant to speak on behalf of Mrs Sanson-Rejouis, but said she and Mr Rejouis had been involved with the United Nations for a long time.

"They met on a mission in North Africa. They have spent time in Bosnia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Timor."

The pair had always helped people and had been in Haiti since May.

Mr Rejouis was a French American with family who hailed from Haiti but mainly lived in Miami.

Mr Larnach said it was too early to know when or if the bodies would be sent back to New Zealand.

Mrs Sanson-Rejouis' stepmother, Katy Sanson, told the Nelson Mail the family returned to Nelson for the birth of each daughter, something she would treasure.

She understood Mrs Sanson-Rejouis and Alyanah would be sent to the United States when the toddler was released from hospital, but was unsure what would happen from there.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has offered consular support to the family.

Any New Zealanders wishing to support the family may donate to BNZ Bank Account: Haiti Earthquake Sanson-Rejouis Family Fund at 02-0704-0074227-00 or the Haiti relief effort via aid agencies.

Another family member, Sarah Larnach, is auctioning Kiwi songstress Ladyhawke's visual art on eBay.