Police have confirmed two young girls - 10-year-old Lily and eight-year-old Pearl - previously reported missing have now been found "safe and well".
The two girls, who were last seen on Monday night, were located at an address in the West Auckland suburb of Henderson.
In a statement on Wednesday, Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry said: "Thanks to information from the public, the girls were located a short time ago at an address in Henderson, Auckland.
"The girls are safe and well and will be returned to family who are extremely relieved at this news. The people at the address where they were found are assisting police with our enquiries.
"I am extremely relieved that the girls are safe and well. This is an example of community and police working together and I am really appreciative of the public's help which has led to us locating the girls."
The investigation into Pearl and Lily's disappearance is ongoing, Det Snr Sgt Verry added.
Earlier this morning, a police spokesperson said authorities had "serious concerns" for the welfare of the two girls after they were last seen at a petrol station in South Auckland on Monday night.
The children were taken in breach of a parenting order on Christmas Eve, the spokesperson confirmed. The Toyota Camry in which they were travelling was spotted again on Tuesday morning in New Plymouth, before a woman wanted in relation to their disappearance was found alone in Wellington that night.
She was arrested at around 9:45pm, but allegedly refused to tell the police any information.
Officers, who initially believed Pearl and Lily could have been anywhere between Auckland and the capital, subsequently put out an urgent appeal for information on their whereabouts.
Det Snr Sgt Verry said the woman had been meeting people through Facebook and it was "possible she has left Pearl and Lily with one of these people".
"We believe these contacts may have been misled or are unaware of the true circumstances in this case, or the serious concerns that are held for the children's welfare," Verry said earlier this morning.
A woman appeared in the Wellington District Court on Wednesday and has been remanded in custody until January 19.
