Police investigating the disappearance of Marice McGregor are now seriously concerned that something untoward has happened to her, and believe a green vehicle may hold the key.
There has been no known contact with Marice since Monday, 19 April. She was reported missing to Police on Wednesday, 28 April.
Enquiries over the last 24 hours have led Police to have an interest in a Mitsubishi 4WD van or people mover which is described as green with a grey/silver skirt. Information suggests that Marice has had contact with this vehicle; Police are now interested in any sightings of this vehicle in the Whanganui, Manawatu and Rangitïkei areas on the 19th and 20th April.
Head of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Gwynne Pennell said: "In order to protect the integrity of the current investigation I am not able at this point in time to be more specific about our interest in this vehicle or the contact Marice may have had with it. Suffice to say we believe sightings of this vehicle could be crucial to finding out what has happened to Marice.
"Each day that passes the concern about what has happened to Marice escalates, and we are urging people to cast their minds back to the 19th and 20th; to what they were doing on those days and what they might have seen.
"Marice's family are desperate for answers and it is the community that can help bring those answers. It may be that someone has information they don't think is relevant; we would ask those people to call in and allow the Police to judge the relevance."
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.