No-show in court: Police issue warrant to arrest Waikato yachtie Alan Langdon

Alan Langdon, photographed in 2014, failed to turn up for his court appearance in Te Awamutu this morning. Photo / Facebook

Police have issued a warrant to arrest a Waikato yachtie who is accused of fleeing New Zealand with his 6-year-old daughter across the Tasman on his catamaran.

Alan Langdon didn't turn up to his scheduled appearance in Te Awamutu District Court this morning.

Police laid a charge of taking a child from New Zealand knowing that proceedings were underway under the Care of Children Act 2004 against 49-year-old Langdon earlier this month after he allegedly sailed his catamaran on a 27 day journey from Kawhia to New South Wales with 6-year-old daughter, Que.

Lawyer Sharon Green appeared on behalf of Langdon and initially questioned the legality of the police warrant, however, it was eventually issued by Community Magistrate Kathryn Wilson.

Langdon and Que are alleged to have left Kawhia harbour on December 17 before being spotted in Ulladulla harbour safe and well on January 11.

Langdon is accused of taking Que to Australia in December - despite saying he was planning to head to the Bay of Islands.

Large scale search operations were launched to look for the pair.

Que arrived back in New Zealand with mother Ariane Wyler last week.

The charge has a maximum three-month prison sentence or $2500 fine.