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Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 41-year-old man believed to have disappeared 10 days ago with a 14-year-old schoolgirl.
Julie Davis, a Mt Maunganui College student, disappeared with Craig Howard, a holiday park employee from the Waikato, 10 days ago.
Tauranga CIB Detective Constable Pete Sweeney today said a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Howard for the abduction of a young person under 16 years.
It was thought Howard was still with Julie in the Coromandel, Waikato or Bay of Plenty area.
"I would urge Craig Howard to bring this matter to a swift conclusion by presenting himself to his nearest police station as soon as possible," Mr Sweeney said.
The pair have known each other since March, but Julie's family only became aware of their relationship the day before she went missing.
Police are refusing to say whether they are investigating any sexual aspect of the pair's relationship.
Julie's disappearance was publicised on Thursday but attempts to find her at the weekend were unsuccessful.
Mr Sweeney earlier said she and Mr Howard appeared to be deliberately evading police after failing to respond to calls or texts from him, but responding to others.
"Some of Julie's friends are getting some responses from Julie. Basically, she's happy she's famous."
Mr Sweeney would not elaborate on her responses to friends, but said Julie had ignored their pleas to come home and was "just a mixed-up 14-year-old" who could not be held responsible for the situation.
"I can't blame the way that she is, but I can certainly blame the way [Mr Howard] is. He should know better."
The nature of the relationship between the pair was unknown, but Mr Sweeney said their respective ages and the fact they were unrelated made it inappropriate.
"The longer it goes on the more uncomfortable I am."
Julie met Mr Howard while her family were staying at the holiday park where he worked, and he is believed to have been contacting her for several weeks before she disappeared. The two are thought to be in the Waikato or Coromandel regions, following a sighting of them at the Miranda Hot Springs on Wednesday.
Julie was wearing a large puffer coat with the word "fiftycent" emblazoned on the back, and Mr Howard was wearing a beanie hat.
He is Maori, 175cm, of medium build and speaks with a slight lisp.
The pair are believed to be travelling in a 1989 grey four-door Subaru with licence plate UE4661.
Mr Sweeney said Julie's family were increasingly desperate for her return and he urged anyone who saw the Subaru to call 111 immediately.
