Two interviewed over women's abduction

Hastings police have interviewed two youths over the abduction of two women in central Hawke's Bay on Monday night.

Up to six youths blindfolded, threatened and robbed the women who were giving them a lift to Flaxmere, on the outskirts of Hastings, after the youths' vehicle broke down.

A 16-year-old from Flaxmere and a 17-year-old from Waipawa were interviewed last night, Hastings Detective Sergeant Luke Shadbolt told NZPA today.

"No arrests have been made, but we are confident more suspects will be located today and arrests and charges will be imminent," he said.

A light truck thought to belong to the offenders was found yesterday with a machete inside it at Pakipaki, 8km southwest of Hastings, Mr Shadbolt said.

"We are still to interview one of the women today, as she was too distraught to be spoken to yesterday," he said.

The women's ordeal lasted about three hours.

M r Shadbolt said the youths' vehicle broke down in a rural area southwest of Hastings about midnight on Monday and two teenagers went to a nearby house for help.

The two 35-year-old women, who were living at the house with several children, offered to take the pair to Flaxmere, but when they reached the broken down truck, they were joined by about four other youths.

On the way to Flaxmere, several weapons including a machete, knives and what the women described as a small axe were produced and they were robbed of cash and credit cards.

They were held for some time before being left in their car in a rest area just south of Hastings about 3am.

The women made their way home and the police were called.

There was no indication the motive was sexual and the women were not physically hurt, Mr Shadbolt said.

Police were today still seeking information about the movements of the light truck.

- NZPA, HAWKE'S BAY TODAY