Missing kids may beinNZ

An Australian father who hasn’t seen his children for more than two years believes their mother may have brought them to the South Island.

Harry Speath last saw his children in December 2014. Australian police confirmed they are looking to ‘‘recover’’ the children, although the Australian Family Court says the children are most likely living in southeast Queensland.

The last time Speath saw his children – Serena Lucia Speath, then 6, and Thomas Michael Speath, 5 – they clung onto him as his divorced wife, Jane Adare, arrived to take them away. He thought they would talk again on Monday, as per the custody agreement.

The 60-year-old hasn’t given up looking for his children and has enlisted the help of child recovery expert Col Chapman.

Speath will arrive in Christchurch this afternoon to begin a South Island search for his children. He and Chapman suspect Adare is most likely living in Christchurch.

A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police said a search was launched on February 17, 2015, after the children had not been heard from since December 5, 2014. Australian police were authorised to remove Thomas and Serena from Adare’s care, and anyone with information about the children should contact Australian police, he said.

Speath said he was a good husband and father. He saw no reason for Adare‘s disappearance, less than two months after they divorced.

Speath asked anyone who knew where his children were to tell them ‘‘their daddy loves them, and that I haven’t forgotten them’’.