Search for missing girls set to move into forest

A large search party expects to move into the country's largest forest today to search for three young girls missing since yesterday.

The three girls, aged 11, 12, and 13, had not been seen since yesterday in the small settlement of Kaiangaroa, near Rotorua.

About 25 police and civilian searchers combed the area until 2.30am but found no trace of the lightly clad girls.

Detective Sergeant John Wilson said they would move into the forest after finding no trace of the girls in the village.

They were reported missing by their families yesterday but Mr Wilson said there was no suggestion of foul play.

He said if they had spent the night in the open, the mild weather overnight would have worked in their favour although they were all thought to be lightly clad with no food.

"What concerns us is their age. They are only 11, 12, and 13. It's a concern they are in New Zealand's biggest plantation forest possibly," Mr Wilson said.

- NZPA