Around eight million children go missing worldwide each year, or 22,000 a day.

So far this year, 1985 reports of missing children have been recorded by New Zealand Police - 57 per cent of the total number of people reporting missing to police this year.

The majority of missing people reports police receive involve children.

Today is International Missing Children's Day which is held each year on May 25 to raise awareness about the significant number of young people who are reported missing around the world.

In New Zealand, a majority of the young people reported missing have run away from home and are found within five days of when they were last seen.

Police say young people who runaway are putting themselves into high risk situations.

'While the reasons for going missing are many and varied, communication plays a vital role in preventing young people from going missing and may also assist in their location,” says a statement released by the New Zealand Police.

Parents are being asked to encourage their children to talk about issues affecting them as this can prevent them from running away.

'Knowing who they are associating with is also important and may help Police to locate them more quickly.”

New Zealand Police, like Police in 19 other countries, is affiliated to the Global Missing Children's Network - the lead organisation for creating a central multi-lingual database that features information and photographs of missing children.

New Zealand Police says it is important for them to be part of the wider international community and be aware of any international trends that may affect New Zealand.

For more information visit Help bring them home