14 Nov 2010

Missing Taupo girl found

7:57 pm on 14 November 2010

Police in Taupo have been involved in three separate search and rescue incidents this weekend, including one for a five-year-old girl.

They say the girl was reported missing at 8.30pm on Saturday and they spent several hours searching the streets and nearby parks for her.

Senior Constable Barry Shepherd says her family found her safe and well in a kindergarten playground about half a kilometre away from home early on Sunday morning.

He says it's very fortunate she was found close to home given that she likes wandering and playing with water.

Mr Shepherd says the police were also called to help search for a 20-year-old hunter who was reported overdue from a trip at about midday on Sunday.

He later found his own way out of the bush.

A third rescue took place on Sunday afternoon after a woman had a fall in the Orakei Korako thermal area.