The incident occurred on Sunday (3) when a passenger requested access to the luggage compartment during a stop in Kaiwaka, according to a police statement. The woman’s identity has not been disclosed.
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“The driver became concerned after noticing the suitcase was moving. When he opened it, he found the two-year-old girl inside,” the statement said.
The 27-year-old woman was arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect, according to Simon Harrison from the Waitematā Criminal Investigation Unit.
She is scheduled to appear at the North Shore District Court in Auckland on Monday (4).
“The little girl was very warm but appeared to have no physical injuries. She was taken to the hospital, where she remains under thorough medical evaluation,” Harrison added.
According to Radio New Zealand, the bus was traveling from Whangārei to Auckland. The broadcaster reported that the child was wearing only a diaper and had been inside the suitcase for nearly an hour.
Police did not release further details about the woman but praised the bus driver’s actions for noticing something unusual with the luggage.
“The police investigation into the case is ongoing, and further charges are not ruled out. Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) has also been notified,” the statement concludes.
Photos: Instagram @newzealandpolice. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
