Overview
- At a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka on August 3, an InterCity bus driver discovered movement in the undercarriage luggage compartment and found a two-year-old girl locked inside a suitcase.
- Police charged the 27-year-old woman responsible with ill-treatment and child neglect, and she appeared in North Shore District Court on August 4.
- The toddler was taken to hospital for an extensive medical assessment and is reported to be very hot but otherwise physically unharmed and remains under observation.
- Oranga Tamariki, New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, has been notified and is working with police to ensure ongoing care and safety reviews.
- Investigators have not disclosed the relationship between the woman and the child and have indicated that further charges may be laid as inquiries continue.