Foreign orphan subject of search

Maureen Saupo. Photo / Supplied

Police are searching for a 14-year-old orphan from American Samoa whose extended family was in the process of adopting her when she disappeared.

Maureen Saupo's family have not heard from her since she left her aunt's house on Panorama Rd in Mt Wellington on November 24 with another aunt, Kalala Saupo, after a disagreement.

The pair were understood to have been picked up by a friend. But police have been unable to find that person. They were reported missing two days later.

Maureen arrived from American Samoa, where she was understood to be living with her grandfather, in September.

Her visitor's permit had run out so she was effectively an overstayer, but was still within the 42 days' grace period Immigration allows before it begins making inquiries.

Sergeant Matthew Smith, of Newmarket police, said Maureen's aunt in Mt Wellington had wanted to adopt her as her parents had died.

Because she had been in the country only three months, she had not started school and therefore had not made friends who might know where she was, Mr Smith said.

She did not have a social networking site such as Facebook or Bebo, which often proved vital for reaching young people. A Pacific liaison member has been speaking to the family to gather more information. The family put a bar on Kalala Saupo's cellphone to allow incoming calls only. Mr Smith said he had called her several times but she hadn't answered.

Records showed the cellphone was active in the Cannons Creek area of Porirua. The family had had relatives living in the region that the pair could have been staying with.

Mr Smith said police did not believe Maureen was in any danger.

"I don't think there's anything untoward going on. There just hasn't been any contact between the family members. [Kalala Saupo] may be completely oblivious to the fact that police are looking for her.

"She obviously doesn't want to be found.

"She's probably going about her business and in turn her 14-year-old niece has become the subject of a missing persons file."