Asher mystery divides Piha

Piha is a community divided over what happened to Iraena Asher on a stormy night a year ago.

The disappearance of the 25-year-old part-time model on October 11 sparked a revamp of the police 111 system after a botched response to her call for help.

Piha residents are split between two theories about what happened to her.

Some agree with the police theory of drowning, but others suspect foul play and point to the drug underworld or transients who moved on after her disappearance.

Iraena Asher had been at a private party with a boyfriend of one week and another couple. The group spent the day drinking and drugs had been consumed, say locals.

She rang 111 in the evening, saying she felt unsafe and asked for a police car to be sent. She told the call-taker she was being pressured for sex and, in another call, said she felt she had been drugged.

West Auckland police ordered a taxi to pick her up - but it went to an address 35km away.

The police handling of her call sparked a review of the 111 system that found serious problems, including under-staffing, calls not being responded to in time and low morale among workers.

Shortly after her disappearance, police said they believed she had drowned in the sea.

An anonymous tip-off in December led to a search of bush near Piha but police would not reveal what they were looking for.

Greg Wilson, club captain at the Piha Surf Club, said most people who drowned in the area were found, usually five to seven days later.

But in stormy seas like those on the night and days after Iraena Asher was last seen, a body might be carried to the Kaipara Harbour bar and then out to sea.

"If the northerly drift was particularly fast [a body] could stay submerged past Muriwai. It would then hit the bar, which is a current that goes directly out to sea.

"If that was the case, and given the conditions, there's no way you would find a body," Mr Wilson said.

The Piha resident and surf lifesaver at the notorious beach for 10 years would like to think she had drowned, "because the alternative is pretty unthinkable, really".

The women who took Iraena Asher into their home that night say she and her family have been in their thoughts this week.

Julia Woodhouse was driving home with her son when they saw Ms Asher wandering along a road wearing a sweatshirt and satin boxer shorts. She accepted a ride and the offer to stay the night.

During her four hours in their home, Ms Woodhouse and Ms Bobbie Carroll suspected she was suffering the effects of some type of drug.

Ms Woodhouse said Iraena Asher did not want them to ring police, fearing they would arrest her for being abusive during her earlier 111 calls.

They made up a bed on a couch but about 1am she fled the house in a dressing gown.

The Asher family have reportedly said they were upset with the couple for not stopping Iraena from leaving.

Ms Woodhouse and Ms Carroll are hurt and angered by the accusations. They had no idea Iraena suffered a mental illness, bipolar disorder.

Fiona Anderson, from the Piha Motor Camp, said she thought about Iraena Asher "every day" and believed the mystery of her disappearance would eventually be solved.

In the past year, three clairvoyants had been to the camp saying they had visions of Iraena Asher's body in bush, which prompted searches by the community.

Ms Anderson said Jesse Bragert, who held the party attended by Ms Asher, had been deeply affected by her disappearance.

"It was a horrible tragic thing. They all went out and did drugs, with alcohol involved and people start to spin out.

"Prior to Iraena, several times a year I would end up with somebody on my couch for the night. I wouldn't do that now because I'd be terrified of the same thing happening."