Police have put out an urgent appeal for help in locating two missing girls, 10-year-old Lily and 8-year-old Pearl.
A police handout photo, taken from Facebook, shows the two missing girls 10-year-old Lily and 8-year-old Pearl. The police want to hear of any sightings of the children, who have not been seen since the night of January 2nd. Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
The children were taken in breach of a parenting order on Christmas Eve, and the last sighting of them was at 11pm on Monday night, January 2, at a South Auckland petrol station.
The Toyota Camry in which they were travelling was seen again on the morning of Tuesday, January 3 in New Plymouth, before their mother - who was wanted in relation to their disappearance - was found alone in Wellington that night.
She was arrested about 9.45pm, and has refused to tell police where the girls are.
Police then spent time searching vehicles parked in central Wellington but they believe Pearl and Lily could be anywhere between Auckland and the capital.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry said their mother had been meeting people through Facebook in the time that police have been looking for her and the children.
"It is possible she has left Pearl and Lily with one of these people.
"We believe these contacts may have been misled or are unaware of the true circumstances in this case, or the serious concerns that are held for the children's welfare."
The police want to hear of any sightings of this car, a 1994 silver Toyota Camry sedan, with the licence plate CLR45. Photo: NZ Police
Police are asking anyone with information to call 111.
They also want to hear about any sightings of a 1994 silver Toyota Camry with the licence plate CLR45.
Verry said their focus was on locating Lily and Pearl safe and well.
The mother is due to appear in Wellington District Court today, charged with breaching a parenting order.