It has been 25 years since 2-year-old Amber-Lee Cruickshank disappeared from Kingston on the shore of Lake Wakatipu. Initially she was presumed drown but quickly police and her mother Nicola suspected something far more sinister happened to the little blonde girl. Video / Mike Scott
A $100,000 reward and immunity from prosecution is being offered by police for information about the disappearance or death of Southland toddler Amber-Lee Cruickshank.
Her family say it is their last hope of finding out what happened to the little girl - who vanished without a trace almost 29 yearsago.
The Herald can reveal that the reward will remain in place for six months from today.
Amber-Lee was last seen on October 17 1992 at Kingston, a small town at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu.
The toddler was there with her mother, stepfather and baby brother - the family had left their home in Invercargill and were heading to the West Coast to start a new life together.
They stopped at Kingston for a night to catch up with friends.
After an afternoon by the lake and a barbecue, the toddler vanished and despite exhaustive land and water searches there has been no sign of her in almost three decades.
Police met with Amber-Lee's family - who now live in the Christchurch area - late last year and a reward was discussed.
After working through the approval process at Police National Headquarters the reward was confirmed last week and announced publicly today.
Police will pay up to $100,000 for material information or evidence which leads to the identity and conviction of any person or people responsible for Amber-Lee's disappearance.
And they will consider immunity from prosecution for any "accomplice" who provides information or evidence to police as long as they are not the "main offender".
Detective Inspector Stu Harvey said after 29 years police hoped someone would finally come forward and help them solve the mystery.
"While we don't know where she is or what happened, we believe she may have been the victim of foul play," Harvey told the Herald.
"There is someone out there who holds the key to the truth."
Harvey said over the years police had conducted a significant number of inquiries into Amber-Lee's disappearance.
"We have gone to great lengths to explore different scenarios and investigation leads without success.
"Her mother and family members have been left to worry and angst about what happened to this very young child for far too long.
The last photo taken of Amber-Lee with her mother and brothers before she vanished in 1992. Photo / Supplied
Amber-Lee's mother and brothers spoke to the Herald about the reward offer.
"Twenty-nine years of not knowing what happened to our beloved Amber-Lee has been 29 years of pain, anger, frustration and torment - with endless searching and praying for this nightmare to end," said Nicola Cruickshank.
"To have answers, to have closure, to have Amber-Lee come home - that's all we want.
"And now we are living in hope, praying that this reward will enough to entice whoever holds the key to the truth of Amber-Lee's disappearance and her whereabouts to come forward - whether she has passed, or is alive."
Nicola Cruickshank said she had never given up hope her daughter - who would have turned 31 on May 5 - would be found.
"We have done everything possible and within our power to find the answers.
She appealed to anyone with any information to speak up.
"We are begging you to come forward and do the right thing," she implored.
"Put an end to this nightmare and bring Amber-Lee home - where she belongs.
"She deserves that much at least."
Nicola Cruickshank near the place where she last saw her toddler in 1992. Photo / Mike Scott
Harley Cruickshank was just 5 when his sister vanished. He was staying with friends of the family while his mother and stepfather relocated and was to join them once they had unpacked and settled in.
"If anyone knows anything - speak up. You owe whoever is responsible for this nothing."
In 2017, to mark the 25th anniversary of Amber-Lee going missing, the Herald worked with her mother and police on Chasing Ghosts - a six-part podcast series, news feature and mini-documentary about the case.
Chasing Ghosts was researched and written by senior crime reporter Anna Leask.
Visual journalist Mike Scott did the field recording and produced the mini-documentary.
You can listen to the series by clicking on the embedded audio file above or via iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts and your usual apps.
In producing the series, Leask had unprecedented access to Amber-Lee's family and others closely connected to the case, including both police officers who have led the investigation.
They also spoke, for the first time, the people considered of interest to police.
The bach where Amber-Lee Cruickshank was last seen at Kingston. Photo / Mike Scott
Chasing Ghosts tells Amber-Lee's story in unflinching and enormous detail - and for the first time in full.
Leask said the project aimed to bring fresh attention to the case in the hope that someone comes forward with information that could help bring Amber-Lee home.
The last major reward offered by police was in May 2019 for information leading to the arrest of the person or people who murdered Christchurch mum Angela Blackmoore in her own home while her toddler was sleeping nearby.
Blackmoore was 10 weeks pregnant when she was killed - stabbed 39 times in her kitchen - in August 1995.
Less than six months after the reward was announced, three people were arrested and charged in relation to her murder.
Last year Jeremy Powell, 45, was jailed for life after pleading guilty to a charge of murder.
Two other accused remain before the courts.
Help bring Amber-Lee home
If you know what happened to Amber-Lee, or have information you have never shared with police that could help the investigation - please come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the non-emergency phone number 105 and reference Operation Oliver: 921030/2144.
To pass on information anonymously, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or fill out their online form here.
This service is completely confidential and you do not have to reveal your identity. Police have no way of tracing who passes on tips to Crimestoppers.
