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Friend and property developer Crown Xu has told National Radio that police should be looking at the former business partners of Xin Xin's parents.
It has now been 48 hours since five-year-old Ma Xin Xin was abducted from outside her Albany home.
Ma Xin Xin was riding her bike on the footpath of Corricvale Way, Harrowglen, at 12.30pm on Monday when a man with his face disguised stopped a silver or light-coloured car, grabbed her and took her away.
Mr Xu said in China, Malaysia and Hong Kong children are sometimes abducted when business deals go wrong.
"Normally in Asian countries some business partners, between business partners breaking up or money issues or some problem, sometimes, something like this happens," Mr Xu told National Radio.
He said the fact that it has happened in New Zealand is shocking.
Mr Xu said he is a longtime friend of Xin Xin's parents and grandparents.
"It is a very, very bad time, a very, very sad time," Mr Xu said.
Detective Inspector Steve Wood said as the hours went by, police were becoming more and more concerned for the safety of Xin Xin - also referred to by police as Cina Ma.
"There is only a limited amount that I can release in terms of how the inquiry is progressing, " Mr Wood said.
He appealed to the people responsible for the abduction to return Xin Xin to police and said more than 30 police staff were working on the case.
"Every hour is an hour closer to resolving this matter."
Mr Wood ignored a question from the media about whether any possible ransom note had been received.
Asked if family members were being investigated, he said police were looking at all lines of inquiry.
"We do have several lines of inquiry but I'm not going to get into the nitty-gritty of what those lines of inquiry are."
He said police were confident that the case would be resolved.
Parents' worst nightmare
Acting North Shore Area Commander Inspector Gary Davey said he was also a concerned North Shore parent but reiterated the abduction was not a random act.
"This is a parent's worst nightmare, the fact it happened to a child and there is an element of fear out there."
Mr Davey said the North Shore was still a safe place and people could go about their business.
"Having said that, it's always important for parents and caregivers to supervise their children and always know where they are and what they're up to," he said.
"Thank fully incidents of abduction are rare in New Zealand."
"In my five years on the North Shore this is unprecedented. My heart goes out to the family, and the community who reside in this locality."
Police defend handling of information
Yesterday two press conferences were called where Detective Inspector Steve Wood and Xin Xin's family read short statements but declined to answer questions.
Mr Wood issued another statement earlier this morning in which he defended the police.
"The nature of this investigation is such that it is not appropriate to release details of our current enquiries at this time. When there is information that we believe needs to be released publicly we will most certainly do so," Mr Wood said.
He said the number one priority was on finding Ma Xin Xin.
"There is no change in the status of the investigation. We are meticulously working through a large number of enquiries," Mr Wood said.
"The police must consider the Xin Xin's safety in every detail that we make public. This is precisely what we are doing."
* Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the North Shore CIB on (09) 477 5000 or through the confidential text line 027 27 27 669.
