No decision on toddler's dad

It is too early to say whether a father whose 2-year-old son disappeared after he left him in the care of his 5-year-old sister while hunting will face charges, police say.

The boy was found late on Monday night after police and search and rescue volunteers combed the Kaingaroa Forest between Rotorua and Taupo for almost six hours.

The toddler wandered off after his father left him and his sister in a vehicle parked on a road while he went into the bush for two hours.

When he returned, the boy was gone and could not be found.

The father was had to drive out of the forest to get cellphone coverage to raise the alarm.

The toddler was found at 11.40pm, 2.9km from where he disappeared.

Police said he was very wet, but was in good health.

About 30 people, including the boy's family and search-and-rescue volunteers from Taupo, Turangi and Rotorua, helped in the search.

Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen of Taupo said that officers had not got back to the station until 3am.