A reported sighting of a young woman gagged in a car has Whangarei police worried about the possibly sinister situation.
Police communications spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said witnesses reported seeing a teenage female in the front passenger seat with what appeared to be duct tape across her mouth.
Whangarei police were called about 12.45pm on Thursday by the people who saw the car on Kerehunga Rd, Poroti, just south of Whangarei.
Mrs Kennett said police were told the female looked scared and that it appeared her hands were tied together.
She said the vehicle was driven past the witnesses and turned on to Mangakahia Rd heading towards Whangarei. The witnesses immediately called police, who were at the scene a short time later, but they could not find any trace of the car.