NEW ZEALAND, 3 AUG

A 27-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday after she was found travelling on a bus with a two-year-old girl concealed inside her suitcase in Kaiwaka, around 100 km north of Auckland.

The incident came to light when the bus driver noticed movement in a piece of luggage stored in the compartment beneath the passenger area. Upon inspection, the child was discovered inside the suitcase.

Police said the toddler appeared “very hot, but otherwise physically unharmed” and is currently undergoing a full medical assessment at a hospital.

The woman has been charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child. Authorities added that further charges are possible.

New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, has been informed, and investigations are ongoing.

Police praised the bus driver’s quick thinking, saying it likely prevented a much more serious outcome.