This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/03/woman-arrested-travelling-two-year-old-suitcase-new-zealand

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Woman arrested after allegedly travelling with two-year-old in suitcase in New Zealand Woman arrested after allegedly travelling with two-year-old in suitcase in New Zealand
(about 4 hours later)
Police say 27-year-old charged with ill treatment and neglect of a child after bus driver spotted a bag moving A 27-year-old appeared in court on Monday, charged with ill treatment and neglect of a child after bus driver spotted a bag moving
A New Zealand woman has been arrested after a bus driver discovered a toddler stowed in a suitcase within the luggage compartment. A New Zealand woman has appeared in court charged with neglecting a child, after a bus driver discovered a toddler stowed in a suitcase within the luggage compartment.
Police were called to a bus depot in Kaiwaka, 60 miles (100km) north of Auckland, after the bus driver became concerned about a bag moving during a scheduled stop.Police were called to a bus depot in Kaiwaka, 60 miles (100km) north of Auckland, after the bus driver became concerned about a bag moving during a scheduled stop.
“When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl,” DI Simon Harrison said. “The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed.”“When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl,” DI Simon Harrison said. “The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed.”
The luggage had been stored beneath the bus passengers, in a separate compartment.The luggage had been stored beneath the bus passengers, in a separate compartment.
The girl was in hospital undergoing an extensive medical assessment, Harrison said. He added that the driver prevented “what could have been a far worse outcome”.The girl was in hospital undergoing an extensive medical assessment, Harrison said. He added that the driver prevented “what could have been a far worse outcome”.
“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action,” Harrison said.“We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action,” Harrison said.
Harrison said a 27-year-old woman had been charged with ill treatment and neglect of a child. A 27-year-old woman appeared in the North Shore district court on Monday afternoon, after being charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child.
Further charges were possible, he said. New Zealand’s ministry for children, Oranga Tamariki, has been notified. Court documents allege the woman had been travelling from Whangārei to Auckland on a bus and had placed the child in a closed suitcase in the bus stowaway, local news outlet Stuff reported.
New Zealand’s ministry for children, Oranga Tamariki, has been notified.
In a statement to the Guardian, the bus company, Intercity, said it was aware of an incident involving a passenger on one of its services.In a statement to the Guardian, the bus company, Intercity, said it was aware of an incident involving a passenger on one of its services.
“Police were called to respond, and they are now investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident and the service resumed,” a spokesperson said.“Police were called to respond, and they are now investigating the matter. No one was harmed during the incident and the service resumed,” a spokesperson said.
As it was now an active police investigation, the company was unable to comment further.As it was now an active police investigation, the company was unable to comment further.