New Zealand Woman Charged After Toddler Found Alive in Suitcase on Bus

A 27-year-old woman in New Zealand was arrested and charged with child neglect after a bus driver discovered her two-year-old daughter hidden inside a suitcase in the luggage compartment of an InterCity bus in Kaiwaka, north of Auckland. The driver became suspicious when he noticed the suitcase moving during a scheduled stop and alerted the police, who found the toddler very hot but physically unharmed. The girl was immediately taken to the hospital for extensive medical assessment and the Ministry for Children was notified. The woman is due to appear in North Shore District Court, and police investigations are ongoing with the possibility of additional charges. InterCity confirmed the incident involved one of its services but stated no one was injured and that the service has since resumed as usual. Authorities commended the bus driver for his quick action, which prevented a potentially worse outcome.