By JO-MARIE BROWN
A Taupo couple who abducted their 3 1/2-year-old daughter from welfare care are on the run in the central North Island.
Mark Phillip Harris, aged 29, and Tania Tahi Maaka, 25, disappeared with their daughter, Mykayla, and 18-month-old son, Whai, from their Taupo home on June 4.
Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) was granted interim custody of the children in January because of care issues but had since returned them to Ms Maaka.
Mr Harris, who had been in prison for assault, visited the family in June and convinced his partner to leave town with him, breaching restraining, custody and access orders.
CYFS located the boy shortly after the family's disappearance and placed him in foster care, but Ms Maaka abducted the boy again while visiting him in Taupo on June 21.
The boy has since been recovered from his mother in Whitianga and the service was granted full custody of both children, but Mykayla is still missing and the family are proving elusive.
Senior Constable Barry Shepherd, of Taupo, said the trio were last sighted in Kawerau on July 17, but police believed they had also visited Hamilton, Ohaupo, Minginui, Whakatane, Waihi, Taumarunui and Gisborne.
Police were concerned for the girl's welfare as she was spotted being carried around in Mr Harris' backpack in Minginui and appeared grubby and hungry.
"Obviously they have taken issue with the fact that CYFS have taken custody of the children, but we are concerned for her care and general health.
"Being carried around in a backpack is not ideal care of a little girl," Senior Constable Shepherd said.
"It could well be that the people they are staying with may not know that the kid is in social welfare care."
Senior Constable Shepherd said the couple's benefit had been cut and their belongings, including a firearm, were seized in Kawerau.
Police understand that the pair have been alerted to the search and Mr Harris has cut his hair and is now clean-shaven.
A description of Ms Maaka was not available, but Mykayla was last seen wearing blue cargo pants, a T-shirt, blue jacket and pink gumboots.
Senior Constable Shepherd said the family were driving a blue 1983 Mitsubishi Galant with black louvre windows.
He appealed for anyone with information on the family's whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.
Couple flees with daughter from welfare custody
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