Snatched Alyssa is home safe

Alyssa Barker was found safe last night. Photo / Supplied

Baby Alyssa Barker was found safe and well in West Auckland last night, 36 hours after she was taken by a woman who had been staying with her family.

Police said a Swanson woman who watched television news last night recognised the alleged abductor, troubled Skye Mason, and 18-month-old Alyssa as the two people staying with her.

She waited until they were asleep and called police. That was at 9.15pm and Alyssa was reunited with her parents after a check-up at Waitakere Hospital not long after.

"She was taken to the hospital as a precaution for a few hours," said her elated father Scott. Police said she did not appear to be suffering any ill-effects and 27-year-old Skye was in custody.

"This is one story that does not have a tragic end for a child and for that, we are very happy," Detective Inspector Stan Brown said.

Her dad said Alyssa would be spending today "doing pretty much anything she wants to do".

"She was very happy to see us and gave us lots of cuddles and smiles."

Earlier in the day, a disturbing picture emerged of Mason. She has three children of her own, but they have not been in her custody.

Mason is known to the police and is a witness in an ongoing court case. She has mental health issues and one acquaintance said she had convinced herself she was not human.

Mason had met Alyssa's parents, Sam and Scott, only recently, but they decided that she needed help and took her in. On Friday afternoon she asked to take Alyssa for a walk, and wasn't seen again until late last night.

North Shore man Devan Vitali has known Mason for about two years and said she believed she was a fairy and had been known to dance around with wings on her back, feathers on her ankles and no top on.

Vitali believed Mason's children were looked after by their fathers' families.

CYF has confirmed it has dealt with Mason.

CYF general manager of operations Marama Edwards said their primary concern was for Alyssa. "Ms Mason's own children are safe and well," Edwards said.

Vitali last saw Mason about two months ago at a commercial property in Riverhead where she was living.

"I don't see her as a maniacal kidnapper," he said. "She probably thinks she rescuing a fairy from the mushroom patch."

Scott said Skye had told police she believed Alyssa was her daughter. "She wanted a DNA test. But as far as I'm concerned, she knew what she was doing."

When found, Alyssa had been changed into boys' clothing but no other changes had been made to the little girl's appearance.

Scott said he had been told the Swanson woman who had taken Mason in was Russian but he did not know how she knew Mason.

"I can only thank her so much for doing what she did."

Detective Sergeant Murray Free said Mason was in custody and would undergo a psychiatric assessment before appearing in court tomorrow.

He said Alyssa was "a wee cutie". "I didn't think we'd be able to prise her off the female officer," he said.