Police to reveal 'significant developments' in kidnap case 

A police officer and security guard at the house in Howick where 42-year-old Qing (Kelly) Zhao was kidnapped. Picture / Fotopress

UPDATE - Police were today due to reveal "significant developments" following the terrifying home invasion and kidnapping of a woman from her East Auckland home yesterday.

The Chinese woman was taken at gunpoint by three Asian men who demanded a $1 million ransom, the first half to be paid by noon yesterday. 

A police press conference was due to be held at 8.30am today.

A China Daily News journalist early today reported from Beijing that the woman had been released and was in "good shape". He said Chinese Consulate staff in Auckland had taken the woman to a safe place at 12.30am and that police were still talking to her. He understood no arrests had been made.

South Auckland police refused to confirm she had been released this morning, saying they were "working on it".

Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, the officer in charge of the inquiry, said: "There have been some developments overnight. I don't want to further jeopardise the investigation."

He said reports that the woman had been released was "news to me and I suggest it is probably a little irresponsible".

Since 2001 there has been a series of kidnappings and ransom demands on Asians in Auckland and the Waikato. Apart from a 6-year-old Taiwanese boy taken from his house by two workmen, the targets have been senior Asian students, who police say are perceived as wealthy.

But yesterday's Howick crime involved a violent home invasion.

"Certainly this is taking things a step up into another category," said Mr Grimstone. 

Asian crime unit detectives are working in the hunt for the armed gang and police have not ruled out the involvement of Triads.

Three men broke into the Bleakhouse Rd house early in the morning and confronted Qing Zhao and her elderly parents at gunpoint.

After a brief struggle, during which her father was cut with a knife, the men tied up all three.

They later untied the 42-year-old daughter and demanded she escort them through the house as they searched for money and valuables. It was unclear last night whether any were handed over.

The three men, their faces uncovered, then demanded the $1 million ransom.

Mr Grimstone said the kidnapping was a "life and death situation". 

Although the kidnappers had demanded $500,000 by noon yesterday and the same amount by noon today, they had given no direction on how the payment should be made.

"We don't believe there will be any further contact with the kidnappers because it's quite clear we are involved," Mr Grimstone said.

The men took Qing Zhao at gunpoint from the house, bundled her into her Mini Cooper car and began driving down the driveway.

But as they were leaving, Qing Zhao's husband returned home from SkyCity Casino and saw his wife being taken.

The offenders tried to smash their way into the husband's car, brandishing a knife and pistol.

But he got away by reversing "at speed" down his drive, smashing through security gates and getting away to telephone police.

Mr Grimstone said the husband could have been shot if he had stayed to try to rescue his wife.

The officer said the kidnappers spoke Mandarin. He did not rule out that the crime was gang-related. The family did not know the men.

"We can't discount Triads," Mr Grimstone said. "Our Asian crime unit is playing a vital role in this investigation."

Qing Zhao would have had a "traumatic" time, he said. The rest of the family had been moved to a "safe house".

A team of 30 officers, including four from the Asian unit, were interviewing the family and searching for clues yesterday.

Bleakhouse Rd is in the established part of Howick and most homes have sea views.

The Chinese couple's home was bought last April for just over $2.2 million.

The woman's husband had no business interests in New Zealand but was involved in the telecommunications industry in China.

The couple are believed to have one teenage son, who does not live at home, but a neighbour said there was a girl aged about 17 at the address who sometimes translated for the couple, who spoke little English.

Neighbours described the family yesterday as quiet but very friendly.

They were often out gardening and could sometimes be seen practising tai-chi in the mornings.

The couple were originally from mainland China but had been living in Remuera before moving to Mr Grimstone said police were pleased the family had phoned them immediately to report the abduction.

"We've spent a fair amount of time in that [Asian] community and hopefully we're going down the right road. They feel they can trust us and ring us and tell us what's going on."

The kidnappers are thought to be aged between 20 and 35.

Two were about 1.7m tall. One was solidly built with short black hair. The other was balding and wore a blue two-tone shirt. There was no description of the third.

Police urge anyone with information to call the hotline 0800 KIDNAP (0800 543-627).