Cellphone led way to kidnap victim

Detective Senior Neil Grimstone stands where the kidnapped Qing Zhao was found at the end of Hill Street in Onehunga late on Monday night. Picture / Greg Bowker

A Chinese woman abducted from her East Auckland home and held captive for 20 hours rang police on her cellphone after her kidnappers dumped her.

It is understood police were ready to trace the signal as soon as the phone was switched on and had homed in on the area when Qing Zhao rang.

She had awoken, bound, gagged and blindfolded, in bushes in an Onehunga industrial area late on Monday night and managed to untie herself.

The 42-year-old housewife found her cellphone beside her, where her kidnappers had left it.

Police knew the kidnappers had taken the cellphone and believed they planned to use it to make contact over a $1 million ransom demand.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Gutry said the kidnappers had not turned the phone on, but it was possible they wanted to use it to contact Ms Zhao's husband or police.

"We were hoping they would make contact with us."

Detectives are now focusing on the hunt for the three Asian men who broke into the Bleakhouse Rd, Howick, home at 2.15am on Monday armed with a pistol.

They had cut off power to the house and went in carrying torches.

The trio confronted Qing Zhao, also known as Kelly Zhao, and her elderly parents and made her escort them through the house looking for money and valuables.

The men demanded the $1 million ransom but no money was paid for her release, police said.

Ms Zhao was blindfolded and bundled into her Mini Cooper.

Her husband, who had been at SkyCity Casino, returned home and the men tried to smash their way into his car.

He reversed at speed and smashed through the property's security gates.

The Mini was found abandoned 60m away in Bleakhouse Rd and it was likely Ms Zhao was transferred to another vehicle.

She was reunited with her husband early yesterday morning and the family, including her 19-year-old daughter, a university student who had recently left home, were taken to a safe location.

"It was a great day in a policeman's career when we could reunite husband and wife, as we did in the early hours of [the] morning. That was a pretty special moment," said Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone.

"It's also good to see that common sense has prevailed and, to the kidnappers, we thank you for releasing Kelly alive and unharmed."

But Mr Grimstone labelled the abductors "low-life parasites" and said police would "leave no stone unturned" in their effort to catch them.

"The hunt for these attackers [now] begins in earnest and we've been working on that through the night."

Mr Gutry said Ms Zhao was mentally traumatised by the ordeal.

"She spent from about 3am until 11pm as a hostage completely blindfolded, unaware of where she was, and mentally she was distraught."

Police spent yesterday speaking to her and with the help of the Asian crime unit were following up leads provided by the Chinese community and callers to an 0800 number.

Mr Gutry said the home invasion involved planning and the trio had some knowledge of the address.

The police inquiry had looked at whether the family were identified through the casino but there was no evidence to suggest that was the case.

"We don't think the casino was involved but we're certainly looking at that side of it," he said.

"We don't believe [the kidnappers] knew [the husband]. We haven't worked out a connection yet but we believe there will be a connection somewhere."

Mr Gutry said kidnapping happened in the Asian community but the crime had not become prevalent in New Zealand.

"It hasn't taken off in New Zealand because we have built up good relations with the Asian community and will continue to do so, so they trust us and know they can come to us and we will investigate these matters properly."

He said police encouraged people not to pay ransom demands. "It doesn't help."

Mr Grimstone said the Chinese community had helped with the inquiry.

"[The community] has perhaps shaken a few trees themselves and maybe that's what has caused this lady to fall free."

Ms Zhao and her family were clearly targeted because of their wealth.

Her husband made his money in telecommunications in China but had no business interests in New Zealand, said Mr Grimstone.

The family moved to New Zealand about three years ago and have permanent residency.

The Chinese Consulate in Auckland said it was not involved in the rescue and had not seen Ms Zhao since she was found.