Missing Hastings teen found in Hamilton

13-year-old Shakahn Te Rangi, who was last seen by her family on Sunday. Photo / Facebook

A 13-year-old Hastings girl missing since Sunday has been found safe and well in Hamilton, police say.

Hastings Area Commander Inspector Dean Clifford said Shakahn Te Rangi and her friend last night sent a text to a family member saying they were in the Waikato city.

Mr Clifford said police in Hamilton had spoken to the girls late this morning through a family member and had picked them up and taken them to Hamilton Central police station.

"They are currently being spoken to by police there and arrangements are being made to pick them up and bring them back to Hastings," he said.

Family: Police "quite useless"

Shakahn was last seen heading to a house in the Hastings suburb of Akina on Sunday about 5pm.

The girls had apparently sent a text to another friend on Monday saying they were "running away" to Rotorua.

Worried friends and family created a Facebook page, which drew more than 4000 supporters.

Senior Sergeant Luke Shadbolt, of Hastings police, confirmed yesterday that the girl was missing, however when contacted by nzherald.co.nz, Mr Shadbolt was dismissive of the attention media were giving the disappearance.

"At the end of the day we probably get four or five of those a day and it is no different to any of the others."

Mr Shadbolt said if there was a major concern for her disappearance they would have issued a media statement.

However police then issued two press releases calling for information on Shakahn's whereabouts.

Shakahn's mother, Yasmine Munro, had said the initial police comments were disgusting.

Shakahn's disappearance was "very out of character for her" and police had been "quite useless", she had said.

However, in a later statement, Eastern district commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said comments attributed to Mr Shadbolt were incorrect and Shakahn's disappearance was out of character and there were concerns for her safety.

Police launched a missing person's inquiry the day she was reported missing, Mr Hoyle said.

"The earlier comments attributed to the senior sergeant were inappropriate and may have given the impression that police are not taking this incident seriously. This is not the case," he said yesterday.

"I can assure people that we are doing all we can to find the girl and working with her family to find out where she might be."

- with agencies