KEY POINTS:
Missing woman Alanah Brough's youngest son is worried that his mum "is lost" somewhere, while her eldest son is going through a list of everyone he can think of who might know her whereabouts.
The two boys, aged 7 and 14, last saw their mother 18 days ago and like police and other concerned family members are at a loss to explain where she may be.
Ms Brough vanished after leaving her Stanmore Bay home on the evening of January 30. A neighbour saw the 39-year-old walk down Bonita Ave towards Whangaparaoa College but there have been no further sightings of her since and it is out of character for her to not make contact.
Her mother Judith Brough, who lives in a unit below her daughter and grandsons, said the past few weeks had been difficult and she felt like she was in "limbo" waiting for any information.
The family, especially the boys, now just want answers as to what has happened and where Ms Brough might be.
"The young one, he's such a happy kid, is really concerned that mum's lost and her eldest son has started to say to me 'how about [checking with] this person or that person?' and I say 'we have contacted all those people'."
Mrs Brough said she had growing concerns for her daughter's wellbeing recently as she had lost weight and displayed some unusual behaviour.
The last time Mrs Brough saw her daughter was at midday on the 30th before she took Alanah's sister and niece to the airport for a flight to Australia.
"I had been concerned for her mental state. I asked her and her sister had asked her could she please just get help and her reply to it all was "I'm fine, I'm fine'."
"I have great fears for her safety. I honestly think something's snapped for the simple reason that she's been under stress since her dad died who she was very, very close to."
Mrs Brough doubts her daughter had simply wandered off and wants her to make contact.
"I love you Alanah, and I would like to know that you are okay, just please could you make contact and let us, or anyone, know that you are okay."
Alanah is 170cm tall, of thin build with strawberry blond shoulder-length hair and braces on her top teeth. She has a distinctive bird tattoo on her lower leg and another on her right shoulder.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mark Palma on (09) 427 4532.
