Police have had a number of reported sightings of missing west Auckland toddler Aisling Symes, but say none have been confirmed.
The two-year-old was with her parents who were tidying up a property on Longburn Road in the suburb of Henderson when she disappeared about 5.30pm on Monday.
About 40 police are involved in the inquiry and have been knocking on doors and tracking down known offenders as they hunt for whoever may have abducted her.
The girl's father, Alan Symes, told a news conference on Thursday that he and his wife have had no sleep over the past days and are barely existing without their daughter.
Mr Symes pleaded for anyone with any information to come forward, while police made a public request for the return of the girl.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Inspector Gary Davey, says police have carried out an extensive search of the area, but have failed to find any trace of Aisling Symes, and said it is looking likely that she has been abducted.
Mr Davey said the search had been completed and he was confident the two-year-old was not within the boundaries that have already been searched.
A police caravan has been set up at a shopping centre near where the girl went missing hoping people will bring in crucial information.
Concern over persecution
Inspector Davey told Morning Report it is critical that police find an Asian woman seen with Aisling Symes about the time she went missing, whether or not she is involved in the disappearance, but does not want their search to lead to the persecution of others.
The woman police want to speak to is thought to be about 35 years old, with dark shoulder-length hair. She was walking a black and grey dog at the time witnesses say they saw her.
Mr Davey said a woman who fitted the description was targeted by a group of residents on Wednesday and has been left traumatised by their actions.
People should contact police rather than make approaches themselves, he said.
