If you have concerns for someone's safety and welfare, and their whereabouts is unknown, please call 111 or visit a police station.
As soon as you have concerns for the safety and welfare of someone and their whereabouts are unknown you can report them missing, you do NOT have to wait 24 hours to report someone as missing.
The first 24 hours following a person’s disappearance are the most crucial. This is because the sooner police are able to follow-up leads, such as the availability of CCTV footage, the more likely the person will be found safe and well.
It is important to give the police all the facts and circumstances related to the disappearance, including search efforts already made by you and others. Relevant information may include intimate or private details regarding the missing person or their lifestyle.
If you have simply lost touch, and there are no unusual circumstances, Police will not commence a search as we do not provide a family tracing service. Please see the lost contact but not missing page for further details.
Information you will need to provide
When filing a missing person’s report, be prepared (where possible) with the following information about the person who is missing:
- Name, age, home address, and employment information.
- A recent, clear and coloured photograph of the person missing.
- Their physical appearance, including any identifying features (tattoos, scars etc.).
- A description of the clothing they were last seen wearing.
- Their last known whereabouts, or intended arrangements (travelling by bus to the local shopping centre, going to the gym etc.).
- Habits and places they may frequent.
- Their social media accounts/use (think Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat).
- Telephone and banking information (Phone number, bank account details).
- Licence, vehicle registration, make and model or details of other forms of transport regularly used by the missing person.
- The reasons for your concerns about their safety or welfare.
- Any behavioural changes, personal, medical or emotional problems they may have experienced before they went missing.
- Medication the person may use and what it is used to treat. (Do they have a medical condition police should be aware of?)
- If the person has been reported missing before, the circumstances and where they were found.
- Lists of friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who might have information or clues about the person’s whereabouts. (Try to include telephone numbers and home or work addresses.)
Reporting a New Zealander missing overseas
If you have concerns for the safety and welfare of a family member or friend missing while they are travelling or holidaying overseas, and you have been unable to make contact with them (or any known travelling companions), you can report them missing at a police station.
You will need all the information included in ‘Information you will need to provide’ to file a missing person’s report, as well as the following:
- Passport number.
- Details of any other citizenship or passports held by the missing person.
- Travel details and plans, including itineraries.
- Contact details for the missing person overseas.
- Contact details of employers and/or travel companions.
- Usual means and frequency of contact with the missing person whilst overseas.
- Circumstances and details of the last contact made (e.g. email, social media, phone).
- Details of any enquiries you have made to locate them yourseilf, including if you have been in contact with foreign embassy staff or foreign Police.
Once a missing person’s report has been made, police will liaise with INTERPOL who will coordinate the investigation into the missing person.
Police will also undertake checks with financial institutions (banks), mobile phone providers, and airline and travel operators.
If you have concerns for the safety and welfare of a family member who resides overseas, the reporting process is the same. However, if the fears for safety are only based on the fact that you have lost contact with each other, that is not justification to commence an overseas investigation.
For these matters please see the lost contact but not missing page for further details.
If the missing person makes contact after you have reported them missing, please inform police immediately.
Reporting a Foreign National missing in New Zealand
If you are reporting from outside New Zealand and you have concerns for the safety and welfare of a foreign national who is travelling or residing in New Zealand, and their whereabouts are unknown, you should report the person missing to police in their country of permanent residence. This will ensure the report is forwarded to New Zealand Police without delay. They will send a request for investigation to New Zealand Police via INTERPOL. Alternatively, you can make a report through the relevant embassy or consular office in New Zealand.
If you are travelling or residing with the missing foreign national here in New Zealand, you can report directly to the New Zealand Police.
Genuine fears for the persons safety must exist before New Zealand Police will commence a search. If the only fears for safety are the fact the family has lost contact with the person, this is not sufficient.
New Zealand Police does not accept missing person reports from overseas by email, phone or post. We only accept missing person reports through the channels above, as they are able to verify who you are and that the reasons for the report are genuine.
You will need to provide:
- The missing person's full name and date of birth
- A full description of the missing person
- A recent photograph of the missing person
- Details of where and when they were last seen or heard from
- Details of any bank accounts and credit cards that the missing person may be using
- The missing person's cell phone number and email address
- Details of any vehicle they may be using or travelling in
- Names and contact details of friends and associates
- Any relevant medical/mental health information
- Any known travel itinerary or known travel plans or destinations
- Details of anyone in the company of the missing person
- Details of any enquiries you have made to locate the person yourself.