The whānau of a two-year-old girl whose body was found in a Bay of Plenty River has begun preparations for her tangi.
A 32-year-old man is in custody over the girl's alleged murder. Her body was found on Sunday in the Rangitaiki River about 1km north of the small settlement Te Mahoe, just south of Whakatane.
An autopsy was carried out in Auckland on Tuesday.
Family say the girl's body will be taken to Puawairua Marae tonight, where family and friends have gathered for her tangi.
Groups from her kōhanga reo preschool have also visited the marae.
The man charged over the alleged murder was known to the girl. He will appear in the Tauranga High Court on Thursday.
Newshub.
