Missing 6 Year Old Found at Friends House

Taupö Police, as well as Search and Rescue volunteers, worked into the early hours of the morning looking for a missing six year old child from Wairäkei.

Concern for the child was raised by family members after she did not arrive home after school. Family searched for a lengthy period of time before contacting Police.

The child was located after midnight asleep at a friend's house in rural Taupö, where she had gone for a 'sleepover' after school.

"This type of incident is always a stressful time for family, Police and volunteers. What happened today shows the importance of knowing where your children are. If children have friends staying over make sure that parents contact each other and discuss all arrangements," says Senior Sergeant Fane Troy, the officer in charge of Taupo Police.

Senior Sergeant Troy says he cannot reiterate enough the need for caregivers and parents to talk to each other so this type of incident does not occur.