Police have launched an investigation after a four-month-old baby girl from Howick was admitted to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital with significant injuries .
Middlemore Hospital Photo:
Medical staff discovered fractures to her body, including to her skull, ribs, arms and legs when she was admitted on 18 February.
They described the fractures as being of varying ages and typical of non-accidental injury.
Middlemore Hospital staff called the police after the girl was brought in by her parents.
Police had not yet charged anyone, but said they were extremely concerned by the injuries.
Detective Inspector Colin Higson said they believe someone is responsible for her injuries and they appear to have happened at different times.
"We are working on the basis that these are inflicted injuries," he said.
Mr Higson said she was taken to hospital by her parents who were concerned about a particular aspect of her health, and it was during that admission that the medical professionals that were treating her realised that there was a little bit more to it.
"The family are the key to this. The family have been interviewed and the parents have given statements however, we still do not have a definitive explanation for how this little girl ... came to have such serious injuries," Mr Higson said.
Mr Higson said police had spoken to a number of family members as well as people in the local area.
He said someone had to do the right thing for the girl.
"Somebody will know within the family how this little girl came to have these 16 different fractures to her body. Somebody will know how that happened. So what we're asking for is for someone to step up and take responsibility or for somebody to speak up and get some accountability."
Mr Higson said the child is doing well now and is in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
"She is doing well and, I mean who knows she's only four-months-old so who knows if there will be any long term lasting effects from this. You'd like to hope not and that she'll make a full recovery."