An 18-year-old man has appeared in the Tauranga District court charged with abduction, robbery and indecent assault in relation to the abduction of a five-year-old girl on Thursday.
The girl was abducted as she walked to school in the suburb of Maungatapu with her seven-year-old brother on Thursday morning.
She was was found by police within 45 minutes of the alert being raised.
The man has been remanded in custody and will be back in court on December 20.
Police are appealing for sightings of a white Mitsubishi Lancer vehicle seen in the Welcome Bay area on Thursday morning and on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Tauranga police officer Sergeant Dave Thomson, who rescued the five-year-old, says his gut instinct led him to her.
He says it was one of the most rewarding moments in his career as his local knowledge led him to the isolated rural area.
Thomson says it was such a relief to get the little girl out of the car.
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