Police have thanked the Putaruru community for their "significant support" in the search for a missing toddler today.
Police were overwhelmed at the goodwill shown by the community with the police station besieged with offers of assistance from members of the public through to the volunteer fire service.
The 2-year-old girl wandered off from the property where she lives around 11.30am and a major search effort was initiated.
About three-and-a-quarter hours later occupants of a house nearby went to investigate some noises and located the little girl who had wandered onto their property.
She was safe and well and the occupants of the house immediately alerted the police.