KEY POINTS:
The mother of a girl who was snatched from her grandparents' home is due to appear in court today on drug-related charges.
Nicola Richards is believed to be in hiding with her 7-year-old daughter Caitlin Thorne after taking her from her grandparents' West Auckland home last Tuesday.
Both parents originally had legal custody of Caitlin but the little girl moved to Sydney to live with her father in January after concerns about Ms Richards' drug use and associations with the criminal underworld.
After Ms Richards took Caitlin last week the Family Court granted the girl's father, Terry Thorne, an interim parenting order that gives him custody.
The court has also issued a warrant that gives police and social workers the power to take Caitlin from her mother and deliver her to her father.
But the difficulty is finding the pair, who are believed to have gone to ground.
Ms Richards has not made any contact with Mr Thorne and it is not known if she will appear in the Manukau District Court today for a scheduled appearance on two methamphetamine-related charges.
The charges were laid after the drug and a utensil were allegedly found in the 34-year-old's car while she was at Auckland Remand Prison visiting her boyfriend, Iain Clegg.
Clegg is one of two men charged with the murder of undercover police officer Don Wilkinson, who was trying to install surveillance equipment on a car outside a suspected drug lab in Mangere East.
Ms Richards was inside the house on the night of the murder, although she was not linked to what happened.
Mr Thorne told the Herald he had had a good relationship with Caitlin's mother until she became addicted to drugs.
He was now becoming increasing concerned for his daughter's wellbeing and just wanted to know she was safe.
He said that under her mother's care Caitlin had been poorly fed and not attending school. He is worried about how she is being cared for now.
Meanwhile, Caitlin's schoolmates in Sydney have not been told why she was not in class yesterday, in the hope she returns soon.
Belmore South Primary School principal Gail Dyer said Caitlin was a popular student.
"She is a lovely little girl. She's a quiet, diligent little worker and has made a lovely group of friends here.
"Her dad's a really nice man. He comes to our parent club meetings. He really wants to be involved in our school and he loves his daughter very much.
"That's the noticeable thing about the relationship between the two of them, so I was really sad when he came and notified me about what's happened."
On a Facebook website dedicated to finding Caitlin, Mr Thorne said he was afraid for the wellbeing of his "beautiful little girl".
"She doesn't deserve to be exposed to this. So I ask everyone in New Zealand, can you please help me find my daughter? ... Please help me bring Caitlin home."
Anyone with information about Caitlin's whereabouts is asked to call the police immediately.
