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Hastings police say an 18-year-old who has been missing for a week has been in touch with his mother in Australia.
Virgil Keefe was last seen on Sunday July 13 in central Hastings, wearing a white tee-shirt, brown and white shorts and white sneakers.
He is described as a Maori, 172 centimetres tall and of medium to solid build.
Police say they are not sure why he might have taken off and are appealing to him or anyone who has seen him to contact police to confirm he is safe.
- NEWSTALK ZB