A warrant to arrest Lauren Smith was issued in the Hamilton District Court on Friday.

A Hamilton woman who illegally fled the country with her 11-year-old son caught a flight from Auckland Airport to Dubai.

From there Lauren Smith boarded a second flight to a location that police don't want to reveal for fear she will flee.

A warrant to arrest 42-year-old Smith was issued in the Hamilton District Court on Friday for abduction of her son, Nicholas James Way.

INTERPOL Nicholas James Way is listed as missing on Interpol.

Detectives were now working with Interpol and overseas law enforcement agencies to track the pair down.

Smith, who formerly ran childcare centres in the south Waikato, was recently living in the United Kingdom where she attempted to gain residency but had her application denied.

She returned to New Zealand where she formed an arrangement with the boy's father to have custody of him on specific weekends.

Detective Sergeant Terri Wilson of the Hamilton Child Protection Team said Smith had taken her son for the weekend and failed to return with him on the agreed date.

She later notified the boy's father, who has custody of the 11-year-old.

"She's come back to New Zealand but as to what her intentions were we don't know."

The pair boarded a flight from Auckland International Airport bound for Dubai at 8.42pm on February 9, he said. Police were then notified by the boy's father a couple of days later.

"This is obviously a stressful time for the family and police are appealing to Ms Smith and anyone close to her to make contact with New Zealand Police in order to ensure that her son is safe and to resolve this matter as soon as possible."

Wilson would not comment on where police believed the pair may be now.

There were reports that Smith was now travelling with her new partner, named as Chris McLeod, however Wilson said police did not have any information to believe that was the case.

Police did not believe there was any risk to the boy's wellbeing.

"We don't have concerns for his safety of the child, but the boy is under order to remain with the father whose upset and stressed about the situation and he just wants his boy back.

"If she can contact local law enforcement agencies and we can make arrangements to have him returned."

A missing person's post for Nicholas James Way has been posted on the Interpol website.

It lists Way's disappearance date as 9 February 2018. He is 11-years-old and born in New Zealand.

Smith, who also goes by her married name Lauren Way, was due in Hamilton District Court on Friday charged with unlawfully taking her son and leaving New Zealand with intent to deprive a parent having the lawful care or charge of a person.

"Ultimately we would like Ms Smith to return back to New Zealand immediately with her son or to contact local law enforcement where she is staying, so that we can facilitate the safe return of her son back to New Zealand."

Anyone with information on Smith and her son's whereabouts is asked to contact Hamilton Police on (07) 858 6200 or they can report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.