One moment hope, then despair

Oruru woman Jen Whittington has done all she can to find her friend, 42-year-old Aucklander Anna Louise Hynes, and now all she can do now is hope. And that is becoming more difficult with every passing day.

"I'm past worried," Ms Whittington said last week.

"I'm numb. I'm all cried out. We're doing all we can but we're not driving for eight hours a day any more. We don't know where else to look. One moment we have hope, the next we have none."

Ms Hynes was last seen in Kaitaia on Wednesday November 28. She refuelled her car, a silver five-door 2004 Toyota Rav 4, registration CNW210, at the Mobil service station in South Road at 4.20pm, and her bank accounts, cell phone and Facebook page have not been used since.

Ms Whittington described her friend as just over five feet four inches (1.6 metres) tall, of slight to medium build with shoulder-length mousy blonde hair, green eyes and a cheeky smile.

"We are concerned about the state of Anna's physical and mental health," she added.

"We are desperate to get her the help she will need if she is still alive, and just want to get her back if something terrible has happened."

Police in Auckland were in charge of the file, but police throughout the Far North were aware that Ms Hynes had been reported missing.

"If anyone has any information, please contact your local police station - they are all aware very aware of this situation - or dial 111," she added.