A Givealittle page for Christchurch stabbing victim Laisa Waka Tunidau has raised more than $4000 in its first five hours.
Flowers placed near the scene of the attack on Laisa Waka Tunidau. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Tunidau was stabbed to death in the driveway of her Sockburn home, while her 11-year-old son watched helplessly from inside the house on Saturday.
In a statement on the page, a friend of the family wrote that the son is the youngest of Tunidau's four children.
The family are prominent members of the St John Moraia Fijian Methodist Parish and the community is supporting them with their loss.
The friend described Tunidau as a "caring and lovely" mother, and said funds raised on the Givealittle page will go toward supporting her husband and family, with three children living in Fiji.
"[It will be used] to help Mr Tunidau support his young family as he adjusts to the changes this tragic loss will bring to his family. The focus will be on education of the four kids and helping sustain their daily lives as Mr Tunidau will now be the sole breadwinner."
Police have said the stabbing was a random assault as Tunidau was coming home from work, and she did not know her attacker.
A 37-year old man appeared in Christchurch District Court this morning, charged with murder.
He has been granted name suppression and is scheduled to appear in the High Court again next month.
Neighbourhood policing offered to affected community
A community board chair said neighbourhood policing will provide support for Christchurch residents living on the street of the fatal stabbing.
Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board chair Mike Mora said the system made a difference, as shown in nearby Riccarton.
He said it was an important programme that police should prioritise and expand.