Fears for teen being held against her will

The mother of a 15-year-old who has allegedly been kidnapped by a wanted man says she has gone numb with worry.

Police say they have "grave concerns" for LA Tukerangi, who told family she was being held against her will by 36-year-old Dean Wayne Whakatau in Rotorua on Saturday morning.

Whakatau has been described as a "career criminal" by police and was recently released from jail.

LA's mother Marie Tukerangi was tearful when she told NZME News Service she just wanted her "baby" back.

She first heard about the horrific situation through a private message from LA on Facebook, saying: "Mum, I've been kidnapped. Help me please."

LA had also contacted her older sister with an alarming message: "Please call the cops".

"From there on in, you just go into silent mode. You become numb," Ms Tukerangi said.

"We just want her home and safe. We just want her home, we want to know that we're going to see her again."

Ms Tukerangi said she understood Whakatau was related to her daughter's boyfriend but she had not met either man.

She had been told LA was taken after an altercation in a car outside her boyfriend's Clendon home.

LA is the middle child of three girls, with the youngest just 11, and the whole family was beside themselves with worry, she said.

Ms Tukerangi said LA often stayed at her boyfriend's house for days at a time but had said she was coming home before Saturday.

"She said she was going to come home ... she said, 'Mum, I'll be home'.

"I never want to go through what I'm going through now. I just couldn't go through it again. I wouldn't wish it on any other person."

Ms Tukerangi is pleading for anyone who sees LA or Whakatau to call police as soon as possible.

In April, Whakatau was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for two counts of burglary.

He has been convicted nearly 50 times for dishonesty offending and police said he was someone who "takes advantage of good-natured and trusting people".

In 2005 he went on the run from police after escaping a police station cell where he was being held accused of rape and kidnapping.

A warrant is out for Whakatau's arrest for breach of release conditions and the public is warned not to approach him.

He is described as 1.7m tall, of solid build and missing two front teeth.

Police have asked for any sightings of LA Tukerangi or Whakatau to be reported immediately to 111.

Anyone with any general information about the pair or where they might be are asked to contact Rotorua police on 07 348 0099.