Missing woman Jude Coxhead, 62, was last seen by family in Tauranga, and her car was found near Matamata.
Missing woman Jude Coxhead, 62, was last seen by family in Tauranga, and her car was found near Matamata.
Tauranga woman Jude Coxhead has been found dead three days after she was reported missing, police have confirmed.
The 62-year-old was last seen by family in Tauranga on Saturday and was reported missing the following day.
Her gold-coloured Nissan Tiida was found at the Wairere Falls carpark near Matamata on Monday.
Police said this afternoon that she was found after a wide search of the Wairere Falls today involving police, Land Search and Rescue volunteers, the Department of Conservation, Fire and Emergency NZ, and local iwi.
“There are no suspicious circumstances in relation to the death, which will be referred to the coroner.
The Wairere Falls track, on the western side of the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park near Te Aroha, was closed during the search.
A Westpac rescue helicopter flies near Wairere Falls during the search for missing woman Jude Coxhead today. Photo / Alex Cairns
Before police confirmed the death today, Coxhead’s long-time friend told the Bay of Plenty Times she was a “wonderful” and “adventurous” person.
They had known each other for about 30 years.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said Coxhead used to be a primary school teacher and taught her daughter and, later, her grandson in Tauranga.
She said her much-loved friend lived in Tauranga and had two sons.
“Because Jude is such a bubbly, happy outgoing person, everyone on first meeting her just loves Jude.
Jude Coxhead, 62, was last seen by family in Tauranga on Saturday.
“She is a very busy person, who is involved in lots of different activities, including volunteering, tramping and walking, and she spends a lot of time outdoors. Jude is quite an adventurous person.”
She said Coxhead decided in the past couple of years she wanted a career change and gave up teaching.
“Because she loved gardening, she started working at Palmers Garden Centre in Bethlehem two or three days a week.”
She said she was hoping Coxhead had “simply had a fall while out walking or tramping” and would be found safe.
“We are all very worried about Jude and hope she is found safe and well. Our thoughts are with her family.”
During the operation, police asked for anyone who was at the Wairere Falls carpark on Sunday between 6am and 5.30pm to contact them.
On Monday, they specifically appealed for two people who placed a blue jacket on Coxhead’s car that afternoon to get in touch. Police confirmed on Tuesday they had spoken to the couple, who had helped with their inquiries.
