DNA testing is underway in a bid to find the mother of a newborn baby who was found dead at an Auckland recycling facility earlier this month.
Authorities are now working through a DNA database in the hope of identifying the baby's mother, who remains unaccounted for, says Detective Inspector Scott Beard from Auckland City Police.
It's hoped the next step in the investigation may also shed some light on what happened to the infant.
Police have been undertaking extensive enquiries since the newborn's body was discovered at the recycling facility in Onehunga, south Auckland, on August 16.
Det Insp Beard says the team has been working with forensic scientists after the baby girl's DNA profile was obtained.
A group of people with a potential DNA familial link have been identified, he says. Conversations between these individuals and police are now underway in the hope of narrowing down the search for the newborn's mother.
"This work is extremely complex and will take some time, but we are determined to find some answers for the sake of this little girl," Det Insp Beard says.
"As we've said right from the start, we want to make sure the baby's mum gets the support she needs."
The team has been reviewing hours of CCTV footage, including the movements of more than 100 recycling trucks that visited the site that day, to determine how the baby got to the recycling facility - a mammoth task, Beard says.
Police are also reviewing information received from about a dozen people after releasing images of clothing and a blue bag discovered at the scene.
"We still don't know for sure whether these items are linked and are keeping an open mind."
He says it's not too late for the newborn's mother, or someone within her immediate circle of family or friends, to come forward.
"We urge them and anyone else who might know what happened to do the right thing and talk to somebody, whether it's the police or someone who can notify us on their behalf."
Anyone with information is urged to contact 105 quoting file number 210816/2825 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
