Xmas thank you from girl's family

The scene at the camping grounds where a young girl was attacked in the caravan where the family was staying. Photo / Christine Cornege.

The family of a 5-year-old girl viciously assaulted at a Turangi campground have issued a statement, thanking New Zealanders for their support.

The girl was attacked inside a caravan at the Club Habitat Holiday Park on Wednesday night.

Her mother had turned to the caravan to find it locked and a man on top of her daughter.

Police have described the attack as sexually motivated, and a team of 30 are investigating while the girl recovers in Waikato Hospital.

The family had been inundated with gifts for the girl, but yesterday said they could take no more back with them to Europe.

The surplus will be distributed around the hospital today, and the Waikato District Health Board says the girl's parents have requested that this be a private event.

This morning police issued a statement on behalf of her European family thanking New Zealanders on Christmas Day:

Dear New Zealanders, Dear Friends,

We have been absolutely and deeply touched by hundreds of emails, gifts and donations from the People of New Zealand - from North and South, from cities and countryside, from mothers, fathers and whole families.

What has happened is unimaginable. It's a drama, a tragedy not only for us but also for your beautiful country.

However your support given to us is so incredible that it gives us a lot of strength. Our little Daughter feels it too. Her recovery is going on and with every hour she feels better and better.

The love which she is surrounded with makes her feel safe. Her little brother likes it too - he just thinks it is a neat place we visit (the only thing he wonders how come Santa Claus is so generous this year).

Even if this crime has changed our lives we will go on and we want to get over it quickly.

Seeing so many peaceful and warm hearted people gives us huge hope again.

Dear People of New Zealand, thank you for everything.
Kia Kaha
The Parents

A trust fund has been set up at Westpac Bank, account number 03-1555-0150947-00 under the name "Operation Turangi", and messages to the family are still being accepted via post c/o Mary Anne Gill, Waikato DHB, P.O. Box 934, Hamilton 3240 or email news@waikatodhb.health.nz.