A woman has been charged after a toddler was found in a suitcase on a bus

Police say officers were called just before 1pm yesterday, after a passenger asked to access the luggage department during a planned stop in Kaiwaka, a small town in Northland.

Detective Inspector Simon Harrison says the driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving, and found a two-year-old girl.

The girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared unharmed.

A 27-year-old woman was arrested and charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child.

She is scheduled to appear in North Shore District Court today.