Police confident Baby Kahu is still alive

2.15pm

Police say they are confident the abducted Lower Hutt baby Kahu Durie is still alive.

When asked at a press conference today why he believed she was still alive, Detective Inspector Stuart Wildon said it was because police had no evidence to the contrary.

Mr Wildon said the investigation is at a critical stage, as police expected to hear from the kidnappers within the next few days.

He said this view was based on their own research and advice received from overseas.

8-month-old Kahu, the daughter of Maori lawyer Donna Hall and High Court judge Eddie Durie, was snatched from her mother on Saturday morning while the family - including two of Donna Hall's teenage nieces - were out on a regular walk in Lower Hutt.

Mr Wildon said the getaway car, a two-tone, blue-silver Mitsubishi Galant or Sigma, could have been disposed somewhere not visible to the public, burnt out pushed over a bank somewhere.

Police have printed 10,000 fliers for distribution within the Hutt area, showing the car and the description of the offender.

On Saturday - a week after the kidnapping - they will be back at the scene, St Albans Grove, in an attempt to attract witnesses who may have been in the area at the time baby Kahu was taken.

A police caravan will be set up between 9am and 1pm and police say they want to speak with as many people as possible who regularly walk or play sport in the area.

They say they are particularly interested in talking to anyone who may have seen something suspicious last Saturday.

Flier distributed by police

Description of suspect

Picture: Kahurautete Durie

Picture: Kahurautete's clothing

Picture: the car being sought by police

Map

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