Manawatū River searchers recover child's body

Friday, 31 December 2021

Blae Ler Paw and Mu Mu went missing in the Manawatū River on December 29.

The body of a child was pulled from the Manawatū River in Palmerston North on Friday, with the search for a missing 27-year-old woman ongoing.

Police area commander Sarah Stewart confirmed it was the 11-year-old girl who went missing off Ahimate Beach on Wednesday afternoon along with a 27-year-old woman.

The two are understood to be Blae Ler Paw, 11, and Mu Mu, 27, both refugees from Myanmar.

Blae Ler Paw was found 500 metres downstream from where she was last seen.

Search and rescue look for a missing woman and child at the Manawatū River.

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The search for Mu Mu is continuing with the police dive squad, local Search and Rescue and lifesaving search and rescue teams.

Flowers have been placed next to the river by police and the community in memory of the 11-year-old.

“This is really devastating for the family and we really ask people to respect their privacy at this time,” Stewart said.

The search will focus on where Blae Ler Paw was found and will continue down the river.

There was a large gathering of about 40 people at the beach where her body was lying, before it was removed from the beach while a blessing and karanga was given by Vinnie Rongo.

Water Safety kaihautū Rob Hewitt said the karanga “allows her to move into her next space, her next journey”.

Hewitt said it was great the girl had been found as it gave the whānau some closure.

Cici Dwe, a translator and leader in the ethnic Karen community, said Mu Mu was 27, not 25 as previously reported.

The missing woman’s pillow is placed in the river as part of a ritual.

She had an eight-month-old baby and had celebrated her second wedding anniversary the day before she went missing.

Cici Dwe said they were very appreciative of the search and rescue teams and the Palmerston North community.

“We are very thankful to the Palmerston North community, we’ve received encouraging comments and words.

“It is heartwarming to know we have a good support system in this community.”

At about 11.30am on Friday, members of the community held a ritual where Mu Mu’s pillow was placed in the river.

“We believe by placing the pillow where she was last seen, it will flow down and where it lands she will be,” Dwe said.

Flowers had been placed next to the river by police and the community in memory of Blae Ler Paw.

Eh Doh, also a leader in the Karen community, said two opened chocolates had been placed next to the flowers.

“We believe one to three days after they die the spirit will come back for food,” he said.

The search for the pair began on Wednesday, continued on Thursday, and resumed around 8am on Friday.

A rāhui was placed on the river from Ashhurst bridge upstream, and downstream to Ōpiki.

The two women were from separate families but part of the same community, having both moved to New Zealand as refugees from Myanmar.

A support team from the New Zealand Karen Association have travelled from Auckland to support the two families.

A GiveALittle page has been set up to raise funds for both families to cover funeral costs and other needs as well as provide support for the families.