Twins' grandfather ready to talk to police

Ani Hawke, spokeswoman for the Kahui whanau, tells the Herald family members will speak to police. Picture / Kenny Rodger

The grandfather of South Auckland twins Chris and Cru Kahui will answer questions about the death of the 3-month-old boys, a family spokesman says.

Ani Hawke told the Herald yesterday that William "Banjo" Kahui was one of three family members who would make voluntary statements to the police about the death of the twins, just hours apart, on June 18.

She refused, however, to reveal the identities of the other two.

Ms Hawke also said "things were in motion" to have two children - an older brother to the twins and a female cousin - returned to family members who were approved foster parents.

"The outcome looks very good," she said.

The children, both aged under 2, were taken into care when police began their investigation into the twins' injuries, which included brain damage and in one case a broken thighbone.

But a spokeswoman for Child, Youth and Family yesterday refused to confirm the Kahuis' application or comment on whether the children would be returning to the family.

"CYF's obligation is to the safety and wellbeing of those children. Any decision made will be made to protect the interests of the children."

Ms Hawke, a Kahui family relative, also defended the actions of the whanau and their perceived lack of co-operation with the police.

She said the family had spent the past week in the "mystical realm" of tangi and burial of the infants, but now they were "back to the law of the land" and a return to the "normal world".

She said there had been no delaying action by the family, who were anxious to salvage their reputation.

"The best way to restore the mana to this family ... is for the truth to come out and that this case be tried in a court of law."

The family had been in constant meetings since the funeral arrangements were concluded on Sunday and had told her they had "racked our brains" trying to figure out who had killed the infants.

"Elders, aunties, the whole whanau" had been involved in the get-togethers designed to provide "love and support" for the twins' parents, Chris Kahui, 21, and Macsyne King, 27.

Ms Hawke, who was yesterday dealing with the media from a vehicle in the carpark at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium, said family members had promised to keep her informed of their decisions.

But police yesterday issued a statement saying the case was missing "a key factor - the truth", and "key family witnesses" were still not talking.

Detectives have repeatedly appealed for information from the family members who lived in the house where the twins died, but late yesterday there had been little progress.

"Some family members have come forward, but no one yet has been able to tell police how Chris and Cru's death was caused," Detective Senior Sergeant John Tims said.

However, investigators were yesterday refusing to say whom they had been talking to or still wanted to talk to.

Eleven family members - many of them beneficiaries - have sought legal advice since the police investigation began and Ms Hawke said the whanau were pooling "resources" to cover the lawyers' fees.

"We don't want money to hinder the investigation."

A Legal Services spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that legal aid could be granted only to a person who had been formally charged.