Kiara Lee, a 13-year-old girl, has been missing for 11 days, causing immense concern among her family and community. She was last seen on Friday, August 2nd, at a location referred to as "kura" before disappearing. Her family believes she might be in Napier or Flaxmere, though her exact whereabouts remain unknown.
Oceay Renata, Kiara’s sister, expressed the family’s deep worry in a heartfelt Facebook post, stating, "She’s either in Napier or most likely Flaxmere but at this point she could be anywhere." Renata mentioned that Kiara had been seen with an unknown individual, presumed to be her boyfriend, and that someone in the community might know where Kiara is staying. The family is pleading for any information that could lead to her safe return.
Community members have rallied on social media, sharing posts and offering support. Ivana Whaanga Dixon urged, "Shared, hopefully whoever has her in their whare does the right thing after all she is still a minor…" Meanwhile, Saphy Hohepa echoed the concerns of many, stating, "Shared, hope she is found soon."
Kiara’s disappearance has struck a chord with many, with Erihāna Ellis-Paterson sharing a poignant observation, "I swear I’m sharing missing people posts more than anything these days. No matter the reason I hope she returns home to her whānau who are clearly worried about her."
The family continues to hope for Kiara’s safe return and is urging anyone with information to come forward. The community’s collective effort to locate the missing girl underscores the deep concern and support surrounding her disappearance.