In a shocking incident that has raised concerns about child safety, a 27-year-old woman in New Zealand has been arrested after a two-year-old girl was discovered in her luggage while traveling on a bus. The unsettling event unfolded in Kaiwaka, a small town located approximately 60 miles north of Auckland, when a bus driver noticed unusual movement in the luggage compartment during a scheduled stop.

Discovery and Immediate Response

The bus driver, acting on instinct, opened the suitcase to find the toddler inside. According to Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, the child was very hot but appeared physically unharmed. The quick-thinking driver has been praised for preventing what could have been a far worse outcome. "We would like to acknowledge and commend the bus driver, who noticed something wasn’t right and took immediate action," Harrison stated.

Legal Proceedings and Child Welfare

The woman, whose relationship to the child has not been disclosed, has been charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child. She appeared in the North Shore District Court on Monday. The child is currently undergoing a thorough medical assessment in a hospital. New Zealand's child welfare agency, Oranga Tamariki, has been informed and is likely to be involved in the ongoing investigation.

Bus Company and Police Investigation

The bus company, Intercity, confirmed the incident and stated that the police are now investigating. "No one was harmed during the incident and the service resumed," a spokesperson for Intercity said. As the investigation is active, the company refrained from further comments.