Some family members had set up a Facebook page appealing for help to find Te Awatea. The page had more than 2000 supporters and received notes of support from members of the public.
Te Awatea's legal guardian and aunt Margaret Samson told the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday "We're very grateful for the support online. It's helped knowing that people are thinking of us, especially when we've needed to get our minds back on track. This has had quite a big effect on me and my flatmate. We didn't sleep the first few nights."
Miss Samson was granted legal custody of Te Awatea in October.
She said she had distributed 2000 flyers with Te Awatea's photo on to shops across Auckland. Her brother had links to the Massey area but she said she had been visiting every suburb.
Earlier story: We want our girl home
