Missing Kawerau girl found after late night search

A policeman instructs volunteer searchers at Kawerau last night. Photo / Quin Kessun

A 7-year-old Kawerau girl who went missing after school yesterday has been found.

The girl, named only as Hine-Ataahua, was last seen leaving school about 3pm yesterday.

Search and rescue volunteers met at Kawerau New World about 10.30 last night and were briefed by police about spreading out and searching for her.

Vogel Street resident Jennifer Cowan said her daughter had brought Hine-Ataahua home from school with her and she'd thought the girl had gone back to her own house.

"I watched her walk out the drive," she said. "My daughter wanted to go with her and I told her 'no'."

Some hours later, Cowan found the girl sitting with her children in a bedroom, watching television.

"She had turned back up again, I don't know how long she had been there," she said.

"I questioned her, but she wouldn't really give me any answers," Cowan said.

"Then I turned on my Facebook and I saw posts about the missing girl and her photo."

Cowan posted an immediate message on a local residents' group page, telling everyone the girl was okay and her parents could call her.

"That's when my phone started ringing," she said. "By now, the girl was asleep so I went and woke her up and said 'Bub, everyone's looking for you'.

"She was very quiet, she had nothing to say really."

Cowan then saw a group of searchers on the street outside.

"I ran out and told them 'she's here, she's safe'."

Cowan said she now felt foolish for not having acted sooner, leaving a family and community to worry for so long.

"My neighbour had said she knew the girl's parents, I thought it was okay but obviously it wasn't. I should have rung the police, yes. But you live and you learn."