A toddler who went missing in the Kaingaroa Forest in the Bay of Plenty today was found safe and well late last night.
The 2-year-old boy sparked a large-scale search and rescue operation after he wandered off into the bush during the afternoon.
About 30 people, with police
dogs, began scouring the forest for him about 5pm.
The child was found about 11.40pm.
Sergeant James McGrogan said the boy had been left in a vehicle with his 5-year-old sister while his father went hunting in the bush.
"When the father returned about two hours later, the boy had wandered away from the vehicle, and could not be found,"
After calling out and failing to find the missing toddler, he had to drive away from the area, off Haupapa Rd, to find an area with cellphone coverage so he could use his phone to raise the alarm.
The boy was wearing only a T-shirt, a pair of trousers and gumboots when he disappeared.
He was found not far from where his father's car had been parked.
Taupo police had earlier said there were "serious concerns" for the boy's safety particularly as it was raining in the area.
And despite MetService predictions of humid weather and a relatively warm overnight low of 19C, more rain was expected.
Asked whether the father would be facing charges for leaving his children unattended, Mr McGrogan said: "Well, that's something to consider in the future."
"The father and mother are out there searching for their son, you can only imagine how they feel."
