Person arrested in relation to Baby Ru death due in court

A person is expected to appear in court on Tuesday in relation to the homicide investigation into the death of Baby Ru.

Baby Ru, officially named Nga Reo Te Huatahi Reremoana Ahipene-Wall, died after suffering blunt force trauma so severe it fractured his skull on 22 October, 2023.

On Monday, RNZ revealed a person had been arrested in relation to the police investigation.

It's understood the charge does not directly relate to Baby Ru's death and is not a murder or manslaughter charge.

The person is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

The three people who were in the house when Baby Ru was injured, who police have said are persons of interest, are Rosie Morunga, her then-partner Dylan Ross, and the child's mother, Storm Wall.

Wall - who has repeatedly denied being involved in her son's death - has previously spoken at length with RNZ about what she alleges happened to him, and who she claims killed him.

RNZ is unable to report those allegations.

A spokesperson for Baby Ru's family, Ngatanahira Reremoana, told RNZ on Monday the family was "overwhelmed with emotions".

He said the family were contacted on Monday afternoon with news of the arrest.

"They told us that someone has been arrested and they couldn't give us more information."

Right after the call there was a video group chat among extended family members.

Reremoana said there were "tears of joy".

"We are happy now we have at least one arrest and they are still working on their case."

Speaking to RNZ last month, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said the homicide investigation, dubbed Operation Huia, remained active with a "small dedicated team" working full time with oversight from a senior investigating officer.

"We continue to engage with our Crown solicitor and other forensic experts. It's an ongoing situation where we're working through evidential material, assessing it and assessing the criminal liability of any persons of interest."

In a statement on Monday, Pritchard confirmed one person was arrested "in relation to the investigation into the death of Baby Ru".

"Further information will be released when we are in a position to do so."