A 19-year-old who missing in Upper Hutt since Saturday has this afternoon been found safe.
Maia Johnston has been found injured, but alive, in the hills around Upper Hutt.
Maia went missing on Saturday night and was last seen leaving a family home in the suburb of Totara Park about 8.30pm, during heavy rain.
Family friend Susan Stephenson said Maia was being helicoptered out, but did not know the nature of her injuries, or how she got to where she has been found.
"Police came in to let us know that she has been found, and she has been found alive. It was just ecstatic and stranger were hugging strangers, it was just amazing," Stevenson said.
She said the community and rescue teams have been incredible throughout the search efforts.
Maia's mother earlier pleaded for her daughter to come home.
Amy Walsh, speaking at the search base on Monday, made an emotional plea for her daughter's return.
"Please just come home, she said.
"If you are alive and well I don't care where you are, I don't care what decision you made, I don't care who you are with," she said.
"I just want to hear you made a dumb decision and got in someone's car. Please just come home if you are still alive."
