All of the teenagers who went missing from Upper Hutt on Wednesday night have been found.
Two of the teens, aged 14-15, were found last night but the other three were still "actively avoiding police" at that time, a police spokesperson said.
However the three were found in Upper Hutt a few hours later.
The five kids disappeared after school on Wednesday, sparking a frantic search by parents, who believed their children were making their way to Palmerston North.
Mother Tania Farquhar said her son returned home at 2am today.
She was feeling "frazzled but okay".
"He's being very tight lipped," she said.
"I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to police and the public for the amazing support and commitment to finding these kids and the end result all parents were hoping for."
Police have not released any more specific information on where in Upper Hutt the kids were found, or why they disappeared.
The group was made up of three boys and two girls.