No Word Yet From Missing Avalon Schoolgirl

New Zealand Police National News Release

21 April 2008

Lower Hutt CIB are concerned that there has been no word over the weekend from missing 11-year-old Taita girl Aniwaniwa (Aniwa) Mihaere.

Detective Sergeant Scott Cooper, Lower Hutt CIB, said Aniwa's foster family is becoming increasingly worried as Aniwa left her Molesworth Street home about 7.30 on Friday night and there has been no word or sightings of her since.

"It's quite possible that Aniwa is still in the Lower Hutt area and staying with friends," Detective Sergeant Cooper said. "We want her to know that she's not in trouble but her carers and us want to know she's okay."

Detective Sergeant Cooper said police are still trying to trackdown Aniwa's friends and school mates from Avalon Intermediate to see if they have seen her.

"It's now the start of the school holidays so perhaps she's spent the weekend with some friends and is now thinking about going home," he said.

There's no indication as to why Aniwa has run away, or where she might be. "We think she's probably staying locally. Our staff has been briefed on what she looks like and we'll be checking out the shopping malls and other popular place where young people congregate."

Aniwa is a female Maori, approximately 5ft six inches tall, of thin build and has long brown hair. She was last seen wearing a blue and white zip up hooded sweatshirt with white writing on the front and pink, three quarter track suit pants plus black and white slip on shoes.

ENDS

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