Fears grow for missing mother

Cristel De Vetten has not been seen since Friday.

A six-day search by Bay of Islands police into the disappearance of a Kerikeri woman from her rural home last Friday is to be reassessed today.

Cristel Hillegonde De Vetten, 30, went missing from her Matua Block home in Redcliffs Rd, about 10km north of Kerikeri, around 10am last Friday. She has not been seen since and police hold major concerns for her wellbeing.

Ms De Vetten's sister Nicki and a best friend - a Kaitaia woman - are to talk to media representatives about her disappearance at the Kerikeri police station today.

Aerial, coastal and land searches of the surrounding area by a team of 16 police were scheduled to finish last night and Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Pannett said the situation would be reassessed this morning.

He said yesterday it was "a bit early to say" whether there was any suspicion of foul play in the former childcare worker's disappearance.

The woman's family and police say Ms De Vetten's disappearance is out of character and she had not seemed to be upset last Friday, although police say they still need to talk to several people who saw her shortly before she went missing.

A cadaver-seeking dog brought in from Auckland joined searchers on Wednesday while ESR staff have made a forensic examination of Ms De Vetten's home and surrounding area.

She had lived at the address with her partner and 4-year-old son since late last year. The boy is now being looked after by other family members.

Ms De Vetten was not in regular work and a car she owned was left at the address when she went missing.

Police want to hear from anyone who had dealings with her, or came in contact with her, since the end of last year.

Information can be passed to Kerikeri police on (09) 4079211.