Girl, 15, fakes abduction to meet boyfriend

A 15-year-old Taupo girl faked her abduction so she could meet her boyfriend yesterday, leading police on a wild goose chase.

Detective Todd Pearce said the girl's actions were "extremely disappointing" and wasting police resources "to to the detriment of every genuine complaint we are investigating".

Taupo, Tokoroa and Turangi police searched for the girl after her mother reported an abduction.

Mr Pearce said the Taupo School student sent her mother a series of text messages saying she had been abducted by a three men in van on her way to school.

No one was able to contact the girl after these messages.

Police feared the worst and dedicated significant resources in the area to finding the girl and her alleged abductors, said Mr Pearce.

But investigations into the case later revealed the girl planned the hoax so she could secretly meet her boyfriend outside Taupo.

Police found her hiding in the ceiling of a farmhouse in Mangakino yesterday evening.

She has been reunited with her parents but will be referred to the Police Youth Aid section for making a false complaint alleging an offence had been committed.

Her boyfriend will appear in the Taupo District Court tomorrow on charges related to making a false complaint and obstructing police.

Neither of their names will be released due to the girl's age and to ensure she is not identified through her boyfriend.

- NZHERALD STAFF