4 Feb 2012

Rape victim's family donates $20,000 to Turangi

8:30 am on 4 February 2012

The Turangi Community Board says residents will be gobsmacked to learn the family of a five-year-old girl raped just before Christmas has donated money to the central North Island town.

Following the attack, New Zealanders donated about $62,000 to the family, including $13,000 from the Turangi community.

The family have returned to Europe and say they will donate $20,000 to four organisations which helped them in the weeks after the attack.

The money will go towards purchasing playground equipment in Turangi, Victim Support in Hamilton, the child protection agency ECPAT and the children's ward at Waikato Hospital.

Community board chairperson Gary Keepa says locals will find the donation humbling and heartwarming.

A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the rape and will be sentenced on 23 February.