Missing woman, 69, with dementia found safe and well

Far North Search and Rescue president Kerry Sinclair said the group's main concern was the risk of hypothermia but walking appeared to have kept the woman warm. Photo / File

A woman with dementia who went missing on a bitterly cold Far North night has been found safe and well.

Far North Search and Rescue was called out on Sunday night after a 69-year-old woman vanished from her rural home near Ohaeawai.

Twelve volunteers and half a dozen police took part in the search, and found the woman in trees on a neighbouring farm about 2am on Monday.

Far North Search and Rescue president Kerry Sinclair said the group's main concern was the risk of hypothermia but walking appeared to have kept the woman warm.

She was extremely fit and could have walked 10km or more in the time she was missing. Police had been looking for her since the previous evening but she was found about an hour and a half after the search and rescue operation began about 12.30am. The search was aided by the fine night and full moon.

The woman was now wearing a pendant which allowed her location to be tracked electronically. Mr Sinclair said it was the Kerikeri-based volunteer group's 11th search of the year, all of which had been successful.