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Tearful crowd farewells baby Mustafa Ali at Te Kūiti funeral
The mother of baby Mustafa has paid tribute to her “happy and adorable boy” in a post on social media.
Mustafa Maheir Mukzameel Ali was taken to Te Kūiti Hospital unconscious on Saturday afternoon and was unable to be revived.
He died a short time later and police began a homicide investigation.
Family and friends buried the baby boy at the Te Kūiti Cemetery on Thursday. They gathered around the tiny grave, where a cross, flowers and soft toys were laid.
Photo: Stuff / Mark Taylor
On Thursday evening Mustafa’s mother, Tauvalea Law, took to Facebook to thank all of her family and friends and everyone who came to her son’s funeral.
She said the birth of Mustafa was the “happy day of my life, it’s change my world and my life [sic]”.
She said her son was moved to her parents in October last year because of “situation,” but she would often visit him and look after him.
“On February of this year he move back to us [sic]. I was happy so that I continue to be a mother again.
“Let me tell everyone about him, Mustafa Mahir Faaivivi was a happy and adorable boy.
“I never seen kind of boy like this. He’s a strong and naughty boy, his favourite cartoon movie is Cocomelon.
“Once when the TV was on and I turn on the Cocomelon, and then he scream first, after that when the song come he started to sing, clap, smile and dance.”
She had hoped he would one day play rugby like his mother.
“I was so excited he’s my right strong arm for the future, but now he’s gone never come back.”
She finished her post saying “we can’t do anything, only God know, he’s the one who gave and he’s the one who can take away.”
“I know U gone but we never forget U in our heart. I love and miss u so much my boy [sic].”
It was quiet and calm at the rural cemetery, with a crisp and chilly wind, for the around 30-minute service.
A song briefly rang out, with a small boy loudly saying “bye Mustafa”.
Amongst the crowd, people were wearing T-shirts with Mustafa’s photo and angel wings on the front, with the words ‘in loving memory’.
Before the burial, loved ones gathered in a church in the King Country town.
In a video posted to social media, Mustafa was laid in a small, open basket. He was wrapped in a white, lace blanket and was wearing a white suit and hat.
A compilation of videos was played on a big screen, highlighting clips of the smiley boy.
Framed photographs were laid around him.
Around 100 attended the service at the cemetery. Photo: Stuff / Mark Taylor
The funeral comes a day after the baby’s father, Mukzameel Ali, admitted to Stuff he was responsible for some of the injuries that his son suffered on the day of his death.
On Wednesday, he said his son was “choking, he couldn’t breathe”, when he started giving him CPR.
“So when I was giving him the CPR so that would’ve caused that injury to become more big, and cause his death.
“The only thing I was doing like I was trying my best to save my son. That’s all I can say. If that could’ve happened from me, from doing it but that wasn’t on purpose. Like I was trying to save his life.”
Ali said what happened was “not intentional,” and he was “worried” about what might happen.
Police have not made an arrest.
On Tuesday, Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley said both of Mustafa’s parents were talking to police.
“But I will outline that we have some inconsistencies with some of the statements that we are getting with what appears to be the injuries of Mustafa.”
This story was first published by Stuff.
rnz
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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