A mother who wrapped her son in a towel and killed him has been sentenced to two years and six months in jail for manslaughter.
Kulukora Kylie Akau'ola was due to stand trial for murder at the High Court in Auckland in May but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge instead.
She was sentenced in the same court this morning.
The 24-year-old Aucklander had given birth alone in the bath after concealing her pregnancy from her mother and father, who she lived with in Otahuhu.
According to the Crown summary of facts, the baby's body was found in June last year after someone with "firsthand knowledge" tipped off police.
Earlier the court heard she had given birth to the baby on her own in the bath, turning on loud music and the shower to conceal the labour. The newborn boy cried after she tapped him on the back so she wrapped a towel around his head to prevent her family from hearing his cries.
She then went to her bedroom, in the house she shared with her parents, brother and two other children - then aged 1 and 3 - and believing he had already died, wrapped clothing tightly around his head and hid him in her wardrobe, where he died shortly after.
Police received information on June 1, 2011, about the baby's death and Akau'ola admitted the next day that she had given birth, but continued the lie that her son had been stillborn.
Police uncovered the baby boy from the backyard seven days after his birth, and Akau'ola confessed he had been alive when she delivered him.
Officers noted she was "emotionally guarded" and "almost numb" during questioning, and reluctant to talk about the baby, Justice Wylie said.
Before passing sentence he said: "It's apparent you are emotionally immature and not adequately equipped to cope with the stresses involved in being a mother.
"I hope programmes will be made available to you to assist in understanding the responsibilities of parenthood and help you cope with its demands, before and after your release, which will enable you to play a proper role in the parenting of your other children."
Crown counsel Asishna Prasad said Mr Afoa had been left "emotionally scarred" from the death of his child.
In his victim impact statement he said the loss had "affected my life in ways I don't think I will ever get over".
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Dave Lynch, said Mr Afoa was still "pretty distressed" by his son's death, and described the situation as an "avoidable tragedy".
"With the benefit of hindsight, his family would have been happy to have the opportunity to look after that baby," he said.
"He would be a child of two-years-old now, and in a caring environment."
Mr Lynch said the case had "certainly" affected officers who worked on the case, particularly as many were parents themselves.
He also revealed that the tip-off that led police to the Akau'ola's house, was provided by a confidante of Mr Afoa's.
"I think that Christian felt a lot of remorse for what had happened and ended up telling another person, and that person rang us immediately," he said.
"He was unaware that [the baby was not stillborn] until the police investigation. He still believed the baby was stillborn."
Mr Lynch said expectant mothers in a similar situation to Akau'ola should seek help from the various support services which are available.
