Kiwi actor’s Waiheke ferry suitcase saga goes viral as bag found in Brisbane

An actor's mislaid suitcase travelled from Waiheke Island to Brisbane International Airport. Photo / New Zealand Herald composite

A Kiwi woman who accidentally took the wrong suitcase home after a Waiheke Island ferry trip has tracked her missing bag – to another country.

Actor Kat Browne turned to Facebook yesterday in what she admitted was an “absolute long shot” after realising the navy blue Samsonite shell case she picked up on the 10.30am Island Direct ferry to Auckland was not hers.

“Please help me find my bag and give this bloke his bag back!!” she wrote in a post on the Waiheke community page that quickly went viral.

Browne, who has appeared in Shortland Street and Outrageous Fortune, worked out the suitcase belonged to a man based on its contents.

Although she found no identifying documents, she did discover a custom-designed Christmas hoodie featuring a woman’s face, which she believed belonged to the owner’s partner.

Browne’s post quickly gained traction online with commenters following the saga from as far afield as the United States and Europe.

Kat Browne accidently picked up this navy blue Samsonite bag after a Waiheke ferry trip on Tuesday. Photo / Facebook

“This is better than Netflix!” one wrote.

“Your bag needs its own Facebook page. It’s gone viral!” another said.

“I’m in the UK... Your post is travelling further than your bag (hopefully!). Good luck,” a third wrote.

“This sounds like one of those Christmas movies. All that needs to happen is two strangers fall in love happily ever after,” another said.

This Christmas-themed hoodie was inside a suitcase accidentally taken home by Auckland woman Kat Browne. Photo / Facebook

Browne later revealed her Apple Watch was inside her own suitcase, allowing her to trace it to Auckland International Airport.

By this afternoon, she confirmed the bag had made it across the Tasman.

“A lovely young bloke had his bag flagged coming into Brisbane and it was opened to have the contents investigated,” she wrote.

“He immediately said ‘that is not my bag’ and Air NZ kept the bag with them and off he went.”

Browne praised the dedicated support of Island Direct staff, who contacted every person on yesterday’s sailing in a bid to locate the suitcase.

Air New Zealand joined the online chorus, commenting: “Kat, it looks like your bag went on its own little adventure. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back (and your bag) and we’re bringing it home.”

Browne said she didn’t “want this story to end” but was looking forward to being reunited with her Christmas presents.