AUCKLAND: A 27-year-old woman in New Zealand has been charged with child neglect after a shocking discovery on a bus traveling through the Northland Region — a 2-year-old girl was found trapped inside a suitcase in the luggage compartment.
According to Detective Inspector Simon Harrison of New Zealand Police, the incident occurred on Sunday during a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka, approximately 96 km north of Auckland.
“The driver became concerned after noticing movement from one of the bags in the luggage hold,” Harrison said in a statement. “When he opened the suitcase, he discovered the toddler inside.”
The child, who was described as “very hot” but physically unharmed, was taken to a hospital for medical assessment and treatment.
The woman, who had reportedly asked to access the luggage compartment during the stop, was arrested and is set to appear in North Shore District Court on Monday. Authorities have not yet disclosed the relationship between the woman and the child or the motive behind the incident, which remains under investigation.
The bus was operated by Entrada Travel Group, which runs InterCity, New Zealand’s national coach service. In a statement, the company confirmed the incident and praised the driver for acting swiftly.
“We are aware of an incident involving a passenger on one of our services,” Entrada said. “The police were contacted immediately and are handling the investigation. Thankfully, no one was harmed, and the service resumed after the situation was addressed.”
Detective Inspector Harrison also praised the bus driver for his vigilance. “The driver’s quick thinking prevented what could have been a much more serious situation.”
According to InterCity’s policy, children under two can travel for free if seated on a guardian’s lap, while children aged three and above require a discounted child fare.
The case has sparked concern and disbelief across the country, as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
