KEY POINTS:
The house where kidnapped schoolgirl Xin Xin Ma was found is believed to have been a dropoff point arranged by police with her abductors.
Officers swooped on the partially finished spec home at 3.15pm yesterday - 99 hours after the 5-year-old was snatched - and emerged with Xin Xin alive and well and wrapped in a blanket.
The house is just a few metres from her own home and that of her grandparents. Last night, family members were involved in an emotional reunion at Auckland City Hospital.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man was under police guard.
He is due to appear in court today charged with assaulting Xin Xin. More serious charges are expected to be laid.
Police refused to reveal details of the arrest but said the Chinese national was caught in Albany, the suburb where she was found.
Officers said they were unable to give details of Xin Xin's ordeal, whether a ransom was involved or the general circumstances that led them to her.
However, it is understood she may have been dropped at the home following negotiations between police and the kidnapper via text message.
"She was obviously very, very upset," said Detective Inspector Steve Wood about the moment she was found. "She is now with family and we have strategies in place in terms of her care and making sure she is okay."
Residents have described seeing a van full of police dressed in black arrive in Keating Rise and storm the home yesterday afternoon.
Xin Xin was then carried to safety in the arms of a St John officer who placed her into an ambulance.
Corricvale Way resident Dennis Cory said Xin Xin was wearing a pink skirt or dress and had a white blanket around her upper body.
"She was just floppy but appeared to be okay. She was quite relaxed."
Mr Cory said he did not believe Xin Xin had been at the spec home - which has large glass windows but no curtains - all week as there were too many people coming and going in the area not to have noticed.
That belief was reinforced by the sudden sighting of a car in the home's driveway about midday - just three hours before she was found.
"I think it's been an organised dropoff point at some stage today," he said. "I spoke to another one of the builders in the area ... He had his car blocked in the drive by a car in that particular drive at midday and went over and asked him to shift the car."
The man in the spec house came out through the garage and moved his car. Mr Cory did not know anything about him but said the information had been passed to the police.
Xin Xin was last night being assessed in hospital with her mother. Her emotional family told the Weekend Herald they were elated to have their little girl back and could not wait to see her again and give her a cuddle.
At a press conference late yesterday, Mr Wood praised Xin Xin's relatives for their strength this week.
"Xin Xin's family have remained strong in the face of what can only be called every parent's worst nightmare," he said. "The investigation team has been motivated by their character, their strength and their courage and hope. They [the family] have been incredible."
Detective Inspector Mike Bush, the officer in charge of the inquiry, conveyed his thanks to Xin Xin's family for their "faith and trust" in the police.
He was also full of praise for the large inquiry team who worked long hours and under immense pressure to find the girl.
Mr Bush said police would not tolerate offences such as this and when they did occur offenders should know that resources would be devoted to ensuring they were caught and held accountable.
Police said there was still a lot of work to be done on the case and they could not rule out other arrests in connection with the kidnapping.
