UPDATED 4.00pm:  A five-year-old girl snatched from Palmerston North has been found, but the hunt continues for her abductor who Police say was unknown to the girl.  

Shekinah Relies-Skipper was seen getting into a white sedan outside Te Kura o Takaro School in Palmerston North at around 8.30 this morning.

The man drove then seven kilometres, and left the girl on the side of the road.

91-year-old great grandfather Bill Gilliland found the her on the corner of Waterloo Crescent and Hind Place.

Manawatu area commander Inspector Sarah Stewart said they want to hear about any sightings of a man and a white sedan between the two locations.

Mr Gilliland said he was on his way back from dropping his wife at a hair appointment when he saw her.

"She was just, you know, a little girl there crying and lost with a bag and so forth for school."

Mr Gilliland said he ended up taking her to his neighbour's, who called the police.

LISTEN ABOVE TO BILL GILLILAND SPEAK TO NEWSTALK ZB REPORTER GIA GARRICK

Shekinah Relies-Skipper is now safe and well with her family - who are relieved to have her back.

Police are still hunting for the man in the white car.

They'd like to hear about any sightings of vehicles acting suspiciously in the wider Palmerston North area.