KEY POINTS:
When Lisa Heke walked into her son's room in the early hours of yesterday morning, she was confronted with every mother's worst nightmare.
Her 2-year-old son, Kauri, was gone.
Henderson police investigating his disappearance have fears for his safety and believe he was abducted, taken as he slept in his bed by his aunt, 17-year-old Richelle Samuels, who also uses the surname Cooper-Toatau and first name Angel.
The discovery was a double blow to Miss Heke and her partner Rob Chapman, from Ranui, who have been Richelle's caregivers for the past eight years.
Miss Heke, 32, Richelle's older sister, said Richelle was a rebellious teenager but she adored her nephew in what was like a "motherly relationship".
Although she did not believe Richelle would deliberately harm Kauri, the family wanted him home.
In tears as she spoke of her despair, Miss Heke pleaded to her sister: "Just bring him back."
Miss Heke said the family had a typical day on Sunday.
They had a barbecue and sat down to watch some movies.
Miss Heke eventually fell asleep on the couch after Richelle left the room, saying she was going to have a shower.
But about 1am yesterday Miss Heke was woken by her father, for whom she had also been caring since his recent hip replacement.
He got up to take some medication and found that Richelle was not in her room.
It was then that Miss Heke noticed her son was gone as well and the pair called police.
Miss Heke said Richelle had been in trouble recently but had appeared happy and the family were baffled over why she apparently took Kauri.
"I'm totally confused as to why she's done it and what she's trying to gain out of it and how she managed to slip out of my house from under my nose with him.
"When it's your sister, how do you explain that? I've raised her for the last eight years."
Miss Heke's four other children, aged 12, 9, 7 and 4, were also distraught over the abduction and wanted their brother home.
Richelle had packed bags for herself and Kauri and it was possible she had been picked up by someone with a car.
The family have provided police with details of Richelle's friends. She has links to South Auckland, Ngaruawahia andHamilton.
Detective Sergeant Peter Litherland of Henderson CIB said police were hoping members of the public would contact them if they saw anyone matching the pair's pictures.
"We're concerned about Richelle's ability to look after the child."
* Anyone with information is asked to call Henderson CIB on (09) 839-0600.
