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Madeleine McCann just shy of her fourth birthday (L) and as she would look today, about to turn 6 (R) - Source: Reuters -
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A girl caught on CCTV footage in The Warehouse in Dunedin more than two years ago was not missing British girl Madeleine McCann, police say.
International interest in the case remains strong nearly three years after the disappearance of Madeleine, who was a four-year-old when she disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.
The apparent sighting in New Zealand of the little girl was one of many from around the world, included in a 2000-page file from Portuguese police, which were dismissed, Britain's Daily Mail has reported.
The apparent sighting by retail assistant Taryn Dryfhout, and by a security guard, in December 2007 sparked international interest this week after the Portuguese dossier was released.
CCTV footage showed a girl being led into a supermarket by a man in shorts, while a photo in Britain's Daily Mail showed a young girl in The Warehouse accompanied by a man in shorts and an older boy.
Police have identified the girl and her family, and she is not the missing British girl, acting Southern District commander Inspector Dave Campbell says.
"New Zealand police are mindful of the stress on the McCann family from possible sightings of their daughter worldwide," he says.
Police will not name the family or give any further details about them, and asked for the image to be removed from the media.
Dryfhout is working as a checkout operator when she saw a girl with blue eyes, blonde hair and a tiny frame enter the shop in December 2007.
"I was quite stricken by the wee girl who looked just like Madeleine McCann," she told ONE News.
"She was quite apprehensive to talk to me and sort of stammered over her words when she was trying to think of her name."
The man and woman with the child were described as "a little bit suspicious".
Dunedin police had worked with The Warehouse over the information, and forwarded the file to Interpol, although Portuguese police - criticised in the British press for their handling of the case - made no requests for further investigation.
British newspapers, including The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and The Sun, have carried articles on the girl apparently surfacing in Dunedin.
There has also been a reported sighting of a girl in Portugal with gypsies, wearing a black wig, 18 months after Madeleine's disappearance.
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