Police are no longer concerned for the safety of a teenager and his seven-year-old sister missing from their caregiver's home in the north Waikato township of Tuakau.
Te Moehu, 15, and Anahera McLean are missing from Tuakau. Photo: SUPPLIED / NZ Police
Te Morehu McLean, 15, and Anahera McLean, 7, walked away from the property in Potter Road, Tūākau, at about 10pm yesterday carrying a large suitcase, and police have been searching for them today.
At a news conference today Inspector Kay Lane said police now thought the pair may be with extended family in the greater Auckland area.
She said they were very close and Te Morehu was very protective of his sister.
"It appears that they do have family, extended family, in the greater Auckland area."
She said they had been with a caregiver but, because they were under age 17, information about who that was would not be released.
Some family members were still being contacted, but police no longer had much concern about the pair's safety, she said.
Te Morehu was described as Māori, about 173cm tall and of solid build. He was last seen wearing Nike shoes, light brown pants and a Kathmandu puffer jacket.
Anahera was of average height and small build, and was last seen wearing a Frozen onesie.
Ms Lane earlier said police were continuing to search the wider Tūākau area and were speaking with neighbours to check sheds and outbuildings.
The police said it was possible the pair had been picked up in a vehicle by someone known to them.
They asked anyone with any information about the pair's whereabouts to contact them.
