What reason could a 36-year-old male with past criminal convictions possibly have to stow himself away with an attractive 15-year-old girl?

According to messages posted on the girl’s Facebook page this ordeal ought to be treated as a kidnapping, thus many are worried that Dean Whakatau has violent intentions…

Admittedly not a great deal of information has been released about the girl they’re calling LA; even so I think it’s safe to assume that, in the hearts of most young, fatherless Maori girls, there is something decidedly exciting about the notion of being forced to run away with an older man. More exciting still of course is the prospect of defying Mother’s wishes.

…Mr Whakatau’s mother has assured the public that her son, repeat offender and all around ignominious character he might be, would never harm a sweet 15-year-old girl.

Police have admitted to not knowing of the pair’s whereabouts but ‘are fearful for LA’s safety’. Yeah, I’d be more concerned about her being returned with a baby in the oven.

Article by Tim Walker

Edited by Don T Ruster

Photography by T N Aisher