Kidnappings that shocked New Zealand

Ana Eriepa tried to jump from the boot of a moving car on State Highway 1 but her foot became stuck and she was dragged along for about a kilometre. Photo / Doug Sherring

A gagged and bound woman who managed to free herself from the boot of a moving car remains in a critical condition in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital this morning.

Here are examples of some kidnapping cases which sent shockwaves around the nation.

April 2012 - A South Auckland woman was kidnapped from her home by three people and driven to a Hamilton house where she was held captive and hog-tied in a shed. She escaped, with bruising and abrasions to her neck, wrists and ankles, after freeing herself and jumped a fence to a neighbour's house.

The scene at State Highway 1 near Putaruru after Ana Eriepa was dragged behind a car. Photo / Westpac Rescue Helicopter

May 2013 - Ana Eriepa had her left foot amputated and suffered a multitude of other injuries after trying to jump from the boot of a moving car on State Highway 1. Her foot became stuck and she was dragged along for about 1km. The man who kidnapped her, Sonny Waiti, was jailed and Ms Eriepa has since learned to walk again.

July 2014 - Wairoa man Albert Edward Brown, 40, was only 12 days out of prison when he tracked down his former partner, forced his way into the house, then kidnapped and beat her so badly she was unable to open her eyes. Brown was jailed but the victim fears he will only track her down and kill her when he is again released from prison.

September 2014 - Elsje Pretorius had her newborn baby kidnapped from her Middlemore Hospital room as she showered just metres away. Police found her daughter, Nadine, eight hours later.

February 2016 - A 5-year-old girl was snatched from a Palmerston North street as she walked to school with her two sisters. The girl was found after she was dumped outside a house across the city. A man is in custody and facing charges before the courts.