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A hunt is on for 32 Indian pilgrims who have gone missing in Auckland en route to Catholic World Youth Day in Australia.
The Labour Department confirmed today it was working with the Catholic Church in Auckland to find the pilgrims who had absconded from their church billets while visiting New Zealand on their way to the Pope's special conference in Sydney.
A total of 220 Indian worshippers were given one-month visitor visas earlier this month, and are due to leave for Australia in groups tomorrow.
The 32 went missing at various times over the past four or five days.
Although the 32 pilgrims had absconded from their billets, the department said that did not affect their right to be in New Zealand while their visas remained valid, but it was keen to ensure that they continued their onward travel as previously arranged.
Immigration New Zealand was working closely with its counterparts in Australia on the matter.
Earlier today Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer was reported to have said there was no reason to believe the missing pilgrims were not genuine.
She said she did not know where they had gone but that they were not due to fly out until tomorrow.
New Zealand Catholic parishes are hosting 4000 international pilgrims heading for World Youth Day.
The Days in the Dioceses form a major part of the World Youth Day festivities, giving international pilgrims the opportunity to experience local parish life, billeted with Catholic families.
Auckland is hosting the bulk of the international pilgrims - just over 2000.
- NZPA
