A 27-year-old woman has been arrested in New Zealand after a two-year-old girl was discovered inside her suitcase during a bus journey. The incident occurred in Kaiwaka, a small town in the country’s north, after a concerned passenger requested access to the luggage compartment.

According to police, the bus driver noticed the bag moving and opened it, finding the young child inside. The girl was reported to be very hot but not physically harmed. She was immediately taken to hospital for medical assessment.

The woman has been charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child. Her relationship to the child remains undisclosed. She is expected to appear before the North Shore District Court on Monday.

Police praised the bus driver for his quick thinking, which likely prevented a more tragic outcome.