Mother will not be charged after leaving baby in van

File photo / NZ Herald

A mother who left her baby alone in a van in searing heat while she went shopping will not be charged.

Traffic wardens discovered the baby, believed to be six to eight weeks old, in a van at about 11am on Christmas Eve in Whangarei. Temperatures on the day reached over 30degC.

"It was only for a short period of time and the mother returned shortly after police arrived," Senior Sergeant Vicki Allen said.

A report has been filed with Child, Youth and Family Services and no further action would be taken.

The mother said she had left the child for only a few seconds while she went into a store to pick up a few things, but the shop had been far busier than she expected and she had had to wait.

- NZPA