State of emergency in place in Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman regions, and annual Garden Bird Survey begins. Video / NZ Herald
An aunt of a teenager who vanished from a popular Auckland mall is pleading for information about the girl’s disappearance and begging her to “just make contact”.
Whetu Bennett, 17, was last seen at the LynnMall Shopping Centre in West Auckland’s New Lynn about midday on Wednesday, police said.
Bennett’s aunt told the Herald that Bennett, who is originally from Waikato, was visiting her boyfriend, who lives in New Lynn, at the time of her disappearance.
They visited the mall and that’s where she was last seen.
Bennett’s aunt said her niece didn’t have a phone, “so she had no way of contacting anyone”.
Bennett is very outgoing, bubbly and nice, her aunt said.
She said Bennett has a close sibling bond with her sister, and her family enjoyed kapa haka.
“This is not usually like her at all.”
Police and Whetu’s family are deeply concerned for her safety.
The aunt said if Bennett saw this story, she wanted her niece to contact her “sisters, her brothers, anybody”.
“Let her know that, just let all of us know that she’s safe, if she needs to be picked up, we can get her picked up, but just to make contact with somebody.”
A social media post by a family member said Bennett was wearing a black dress, beige top and sunglasses when last seen.
“Her partner has called my mum in Morrinsville to inform her that he hasn’t seen her since [Wednesday].
Whetu Bennett was last seen at LynnMall at about midday on Wednesday. Photo / New Zealand Police
“She isn’t from Auckland and hasn’t got anyone up there she knows.”
The family member said Whetu didn’t have a phone with her to text or call. They said police were looking through CCTV footage from LynnMall.
Another family member told the Herald the boyfriend left Whetu at the mall, returning home without her.
Whetu Bennett was last seen at LynnMall at about midday on Wednesday.
“We are all extremely worried, somebody has to know something. We need to know that she is safe.”
Police urged anyone who sees Bennett to call 111 and use the reference number 250626/5181. Information can also be provided after the fact via the 105 phone service, using the same reference number.
