A 3-year-old girl used her highchair to get a door open and escape on to a state highway in the middle of the night after her mother left her home alone.
A member of the public called police after seeing the young girl walking down State Highway 2 north of Masterton early on Saturday morning, Newstalk ZB reported.
Acting Senior Sergeant Rob Rackliffe said the girl had managed to push her highchair against a door to get out of the house in a bid to find her mum.
The girl's mother was later found but had left the girl at home alone while visiting friends.
Mr Rackliffe said the girl was in good spirits and it appeared she had had an adventure.
The mother was charged with neglecting a child and would appear in the Masterton District Court later this week.
