Professional services

Do not hesitate to contact professional help if ongoing support is needed. Contact your doctor, counsellor, therapist or community health centre for advice.

If a loved one is located and returns home, family and friends may consider professional counselling, mediation or reconciliation to help prevent the situation happening again.

Useful websites

• Red Cross conducts worldwide searches for missing relatives and exchanges messages, to restore and maintain contact between families.
  • Visit the Red Cross website.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade may be able to help if a New Zealander has gone missing overseas. It can only help if other methods of contact, including police, have been unsuccessful and there is reason to be concerned for the person’s safety and welfare.
  • Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade web page Safe Travel.
• New Zealand Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) provides search and rescue support for the lost, missing and injured. The website contains prevention advice, along with information regarding the ‘Plan My Walk’ app.
  • Visit the LandSAR website.
  • Visit the NZ Mountain Safety Council's Find Walking and Hiking Tracks Near You - Plan My Walk.
• Safer Walking is about supporting, educating, and reducing the risk of people that, potentially or actually, get lost or go missing due to dementia, neurodivergence or disability in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • Visit Safer Walking - Dementia, Neurodivergence or Disability Support NZ.
• Wandersearch New Zealand supports people living in the community who are at risk of going missing to live healthy active lifestyles.
  • Visit WanderSearch New Zealand.
• Alzheimers New Zealand and Dementia New Zealand provides support, information and contacts for people with dementia and their carers, family, whānau and community.
  • Visit the Alzheimers New Zealand website.
  • Visit Dementia New Zealand | Dementia NZ Services And Support.
• Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support provides a free, nationwide support service for people directly affected by crime, suicide, and traumatic events, including their whanau and witnesses. They support people to feel informed, empowered, safe and able to cope with the impact. They can provide tailored, immediate and short-term emotional support, practical assistance, information and referrals to other agencies, plus support through the criminal justice system.

  
  Their support is free and available even if you don’t report the crime to the Police.

  • Visit Victim Support’s website or call 0800 842 846 to find out more about the support available for you.