This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The father of a British backpacker found dead in New Zealand has thanked the country’s people for the love and compassion they have shown his family, saying his daughter “will forever be a Kiwi”.

David Millane, who is taking the body of his daughter, Grace, home in the coming days, praised the New Zealand police for a “concise, stringent and thorough investigation”, the local media for not intruding and being “respectful and courteous at all times” and locals who took his daughter into their hearts.

“From that very first moment we have been astounded by the level of concern, sympathy and selfless help from every person we have met,” Millane said in a statement.

“We would like to thank the people of New Zealand for their outpouring of love, numerous messages, tributes and compassion.

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“Grace was not born here and only managed to stay a few weeks, but you have taken her to your hearts and in some small way she will forever be a Kiwi.”

“We all hope that what has happened to Grace will not deter even one person from venturing out into the world.”

Millane disappeared from Auckland on 1 December and was found dead in the Waitakere Ranges area west of the city a week later. A 26-year-old man, whose identity is suppressed, has been charged with her murder and is being held on remand, scheduled to appear in the high court in January.

On Wednesday, Millane’s father and uncle visited the bushland area near Auckland where the 22-year-old backpacker’s body was found.

David Millane described the blessing as a “privilege” and said it was “a lovely and peaceful experience”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Grace Millane disappeared on 1 December. Photograph: Lucie Blackman Trust/PA

The traditional blessing was overseen by a kaumātua [Māori elder], and is part of the local grieving process to allow loved ones to begin making peace with Millane’s death.

David Millane was photographed sharing a hongi [nose press] with a local uniformed police officer.

A postmortem examination has been completed on Millane’s body, and she has been formally identified.

“Work continues to piece together exactly what happened to Grace, as we build a timeline of the circumstances,” DI Scott Beard said on Wednesday.

Millane’s family were organising for her body to be returned to the UK to allow a funeral to be held in her home town of Wickford, Essex.

Candlelight vigils were planned for Millane in every New Zealand city on Wednesday, many organised by women’s refuges and anti-violence advocates. A vigil was held in Queenstown, in the South Island, on Tuesday night. About 100 locals gathered in the rain to light candles and sing songs.

A family friend of Millane’s was visiting Queenstown, and lit candles on a pink birthday cake for her. Millane turned 22 the day after she went missing.

“She was an amazing, lovely, innocent little girl,” said Josh Lewis, a Millane family friend from the UK.

Millane’s murder has shaken New Zealanders, with grief experts saying many people are experiencing “vicarious trauma” about the murder in the usually safe country.