Children abandoned in appalling conditions

Police are speaking to the mother of two young children found home alone early today, surrounded by alcohol cans and a condom.

Police were called to an address in the Hamilton suburb of Dinsdale about 3.30am where they found a two-and-a-half-year-old boy crying outside the front door.

When officers entered the home they came across an 11-month-old boy crying in a portable cot, shift manager Senior Sergeant Kevin Anderson said.

"He had superficial facial injuries and in his cot were two RTD cans, some chips, a bottle of milk formula and a straw, and a sealed condom packet."

Police searched the house looking for a parent or caregiver and at first thought they had found someone in a bed.

"On inspection, police found the bed had been padded to look like someone was there but under the quilt were blankets and pillows."

The children were removed from the house and put in the care of Child Youth and Family.

Police said that when their 22-year-old mother returned home about 6am and found them missing she assumed they had been picked up by their grandmother.

It was not until police came to the address three hours later that she found out what had actually happened to them.

She was currently being spoken and by police who were considering whether or not to take further action.

The children were initially reported to have been a girl and a boy but it has now been determined both children are boys.

- NZPA