Tuesday, 12 October 2004 - 12:01pm |
National News

Search resumed at Piha

1 min read

The search has resumed at Piha for missing Auckland woman Iraena Asher.

Officer in charge of the search, Sergeant Mark Fergus says, "The focus of the searchers is to look for any signs or evidence that could assist in locating Ms Asher. Some of the terrain is steep and difficult to search in the Piha area, but the searchers are highly trained in checking all possibilities and that is what they are doing," says Sergeant Fergus.

The 25 year old had been at a gathering in Piha on Sunday evening and was later found on the side of a road and taken to a house by local people. She left that house with no explanation and was last seen on a road in Piha at 2am on Monday morning.

Searchers include Search and Rescue Volunteers, Police, Park Rangers and the Air Force and Search and Rescue volunteers. Dogs are also being used in the search.

Detectives from Waitakere CIB are also assisting with inquiries in the area. Det/Snr/Sgt John Sutton is Officer in Charge of the missing person inquiry.

"There are a number of possibilities that have to be considered as we search for Ms Asher and people in the Piha area can assist by making regular checks of their properties as Ms Asher could still be wandering in the area," says Sergeant Fergus.

Iraena Asher is aged 25. She is Maori/Pakeha with blue/green eyes, dark brown hair and weighs about 65 kg.

A media conference will be held at 2pm this afternoon at the Piha Surf Club. All inquiries to communications cell phone please do not use the operational base phone.

Issued by
Jayson Rhodes
Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police
027 281 0271