The abducted five-year-old girl was found safe in Auckland on Friday, police said.

Cina Ma, of Chinese origin, was taken from outside her home in Auckland on Monday. She had been snatched by a masked or disguised man and bundled into a car.

Detective Inspector Steve Wood told a press conference that the girl was safe and back in the care of her family.

She was found at a North Shore address on Friday afternoon.

The police in Auckland arrested a 25-year-old Chinese national who will face a charge of assault.

He will appear in the North Shore District Court on Saturday. Further, more serious charges are expected to follow.

The police are not ruling out further arrests.

They cannot yet say the extent of any injuries that Cina Ma may have received, while being held captive since Monday afternoon.

The police had refused to release much information during their inquiry because of fears over Cina Ma's personal safety.

However, they always believed she was in New Zealand and unharmed.

Wood would not discuss any other details about the man arrested or the motivation for the kidnapping, nor would he say if a ransom had been about to be paid.

He refused to say whether Cina was found as a result of the police appeal for the kidnapper to give himself up.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2008)