Families are being urged to check with the parents of visiting children after a seven-year-old's sleepover with a friend sparked a major police search overnight.
Christchurch schoolgirl Taraipinie Skudder was reunited with her family this morning when she was found walking home after spending the night at the friend's house.
The girl's family had reported her missing at around 10pm yesterday.
"We are delighted that the girl was found safe and well this morning," Senior Sergeant Rob Patterson said.
"But her family has been through a lot of unnecessary stress.