Tuitania Barclay - 2002

28-year-old Dunedin mother of three, Tuitania Barclay, has not been seen since 17 September, 2002.

Tuitania, also known as Tui, Tania and Tanz, was breastfeeding her youngest when she vanished from the Wakari Road, Halfway Bush, Dunedin home she shared with her fiancé.

Slightly built, she sometimes had dyed brown hair and was sometimes blond.

It’s claimed she walked out, leaving not only her children but her cellphone, wallet, clothes and car.

Her former partner has said she came back several times in the following month to see the children.  He only reported her missing five months after she was last seen, saying he didn’t come forward earlier because he thought she’d walked out on him.

Police originally treated the case as a missing person and couldn’t find any trace of the young mother.

A search of her Wakari Road home revealed a partially caved in kitchen wall with cracks at Tuitania’s head height.

Her ATM card was used around the time of her disappearance but has not been used since. There is no evidence to support a theory that Tuitania fled overseas. Friends also believe she was too devoted to her children to contemplate suicide.

Police believe after a review of the case that Tuitania has been killed and her body hidden.

Tuitania’s Halfway Bush, Dunedin, home is near several large areas of bush, farmland and watwerways including the city’s Ross Creek Reservoir. The Police National Dive Squad has previously searched the reservoir area.

Police want to hear of any suspicious activity in the Halfway Bush – Wakari area that could be linked to the homicide investigation. Detectives are determined to find out exactly what happened to Tuitania, and believe there are people who know more than they are letting on.

Tuitania’s body has never been found. Do you have information which will help find her and give her children, family and friends the answers they need?