Aisling Celine Symes was a determined little adventurer. Sadly, it appears that fascination with the wonders of the world claimed the 2-year-old's life.
For whatever reason, on a bitterly cold night in Henderson, Aisling went wandering.
As sister Caitlin (5) helped their mother Angela fix the washing machine at their late grandparents' property at 7 Longburn Rd, the toddler's interest waned. Leaving new toy Pooh Bear behind, she went exploring.
The ducklings down the back were tempting playmates, but Aisling turned towards the street. Zipped up in her snuggly green parka and flowered jeans, she toddled on to the footpath, one tiny white tennis shoe after the other.
Moments later, an Asian woman with long, black hair and a black-and-grey dog approached from behind.
Aisling's precise movements are a mystery, but she probably headed down the driveway at No 5.
And as the rain pelted down, she may have sought shelter under trees.
Next door, about that time, a mother began to panic. Her little girl was lost.
Running up and down the street, Mrs Symes screamed her youngest daughter's name. The neighbouring Tahitahi family joined the search, but after 15 fruitless minutes they called police.
Over the next 48 hours, 100 searchers joined the hunt. From opposite ends of the city, heavy-hearted Aucklanders scoured the streets, creek and sea inlets.
Aisling's family huddled behind closed doors and drawn curtains at their home in Massey, praying for a miracle.
Neighbours and friends poured in with food and offers of help.
"I don't live here, I'm just helping out," said one man, as he mowed the sloping lawn.
Relatives took turns preparing dinner, forcing the parents to sit down and eat.
"We have rostered ourselves so we're not all always there. So much has been coming in," said Angela's brother, David Ball.
Behind the modern two-storey house, Aisling and Caitlin's swingset stood empty and still.
Caitlin was kept on a tight rein, not understanding where her sister had gone.
As time went on, the likelihood of abduction seemed to increase. But who would take their daughter? Were they of right mind? Question after unanswered question.
Clinging to hope, the Symes clawed their way through minutes and hours, barely sleeping or eating. Aisling's "stoic Irishman" father largely kept it together. Her mother just sobbed and sobbed.
When the Symes fronted the media, their drained faces and red eyes told an agonising tale.
As Aisling's disappearance hit the headlines, word travelled abroad.
Irish media scrambled for information on Mr Symes, who emigrated from the county of Waterford 18 years ago.
The parents of Madeleine McCann - missing from a Portuguese resort since 2007 - sent an email pledging support.
The team of 40 police investigating Aisling's disappearance swelled to 70.
The strongest lead was the mysterious Asian woman, the last person seen with the toddler. But why had she not come forward?
Desperate police swooped on several Asian women with Aisling lookalikes. Desperate to keep the child's face in the media, the parents battled through more interviews.
But a week after Aisling's disappearance, a 2-year-old's body was found. Insp Davey delivered the grim news.
Yesterday, a postmortem ruled out foul play. However Aisling got into that drain, she had drowned.
