KEY POINTS:
The toddlers smiled and chattered at the feet of the adults. Then they sang the song they had learned together: "The most precious thing in my heart is my little mokopuna, my little mokopuna, don't you smack my mokopuna."
Just metres away lay a small white coffin with
the broken body of 3-year-old Nia Glassie.
Yesterday was the third day of her tangi. About 40 children from three Cook Island Maori preschools - many the same age as Nia - came with teachers and parents to visit St Luke's community centre in Tokoroa where Nia lies.
Nia's mother, Lisa Kuka, sat beside the coffin, while teachers spoke of the privileges of caring for children.
"I think everyone agrees, it's not an easy job, but it's our chosen path to look after our little ones," said Maruia Turia, one of the teacher supervisors.
"Our baby is gone to a better place where there's no pain."
Ms Kuka said she would not answer any questions about criticisms directed at her.
In a statement, she said she wanted to express her feelings "and aroha to da whole of NZ and furtha beyond worldwide".
She also thanked the family of Nia's father, Glassie Glassie jnr.
"We came here to TOKOROA as 2 families Te Kuka Whanau & Glassie Whanau and now we are 1 Whanau."
Glassie family members the Herald spoke to yesterday echoed Ms Kuka's sentiments.
Mara Glassie, a sister to Nia's father, said Ms Kuka was in their hearts.
"She's been in our family for so long. Honestly, we're here for our baby, both sides of our family."
A bail hearing will be held today for four of five people accused of abusing Nia.
The hearing is scheduled for 2.15pm, before a family church service is held in the evening to farewell the 3-year-old.
Nia's funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at 11am at St Luke's PIC in Tokoroa.
The Herald understands further charges are likely against four of the people jointly charged with assaulting Nia and could be laid before their next court appearance after today's hearing.
Police met yesterday for a "roundtable" discussion on the issue, but would not comment on the likelihood of further charges.
They said no decision would be made until final autopsy results were received, and those results could take up to six weeks.
However, the Herald has learned that further charges are likely for the four before the results are returned.
Nia's stepfather, Wiremu Curtis, 17, his brother Michael Curtis, 21, Michael's partner Oriwa Kemp, 17, and Nia's cousin Michael Pearson, 19, are jointly charged with assaulting the 3-year-old between July 18 and 20.
Michael Curtis, Kemp and Pearson are due to reappear in the Rotorua District Court today for the bail hearing, with William Curtis, the 48-year-old father of Wiremu and Michael.
He faces charges of assaulting and injuring Nia with intent between March 1 and July 1, allegedly stemming out of two incidents of abuse.
The inquiry, head Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper, said police hoped the case against William Curtis would now proceed to depositions.
"I doubt he'll face anything else [although] there's still a lot of people to see."
