Police are appealing to family and friends of a man who took his daughter from a Taupo primary school and is thought to have left town.
Samuel Robert John Samson uplifted his 5-year-old daughter from Wairakei Primary School, last Wednesday afternoon.
The child had been placed in the legal custody of another family member.
Police said they had conducted a number of enquiries to try to locate Samuel who has close links to the Massey Area of Auckland.
Detective Sergeant Tony Manunui of Taupo CIB said they knew Samson was in the Rotorua area on Thursday.