Police say yesterday's abduction of a five-year-old girl in Palmerston North was extremely rare, despite a similar incident occurring in 2011.

Shekinah Relies-Skipper was kidnapped outside her school, but then dropped off outside a random house more than two hours later.

The incident comes five years after a nine-year-old girl was forced into a car outside a Palmerston North school and kidnapped for 25 minutes.

Manawatu area commander Inspector Sarah Stewart wants the community to know incidents like this are unusual.

“Situations like this are incredibly rare in New Zealand. We are thankful that Shekinah has been found safe and returned to her family.”

Ms Stewart is reassuring the public that police will do everything they can to find the man responsible – who is still currently on the loose.

Police recommend children are given safe routes to go to school, and walk in pairs or small groups with other children they know.