KEY POINTS:
A full-scale search yesterday failed to uncover missing Cromwell woman Jessica Roberts and fears mounted for her safety.
Police upgraded the search for Ms Roberts yesterday, but did not find her or her car.
Anxious family and friends yesterday put up posters calling for anyone with information to come forward.
The 28-year-old was last seen five days ago driving slowly towards Franz Josef Glacier while flailing her arms wildly inside her vehicle.
She had been on medication for mental health problems, but that had recently been reduced.
Her father, Rian Roberts, has paid for a helicopter to search State Highway 6 between Harihari and Franz Josef.
Police have made ground searches with search and rescue volunteers and had patrol cars checking the roadsides, rest areas and carparks in the area.
Ms Roberts' family has heard nothing from her since she left an aunt's house in Cromwell on Saturday morning and she has not used her eftpos card since filling her car with petrol at Wanaka.
She was last seen by a passing motorist at 6.20pm on Saturday, driving about 20km/h and acting erratically.
Constable Peter Jefferies, of Greymouth police, said Ms Roberts stopped at the Fox Glacier petrol station on Saturday night and asked to make a phone call and to buy cigarettes, only to discover she had lost her eftpos card and had no money.
Her request to use the phone was subsequently refused.
Police had checked most of the areas where she might have driven off the road yesterday and would check more back roads today, Mr Jefferies said.
"She could be anywhere. She could be holed up somewhere."
He asked anyone who sees Ms Roberts or her car to contact the police.
Meanwhile, Mr Roberts said that after the sighting at Fox Glacier they had focused yesterday's helicopter search from there to Haast.
"We are all very tense and on edge at the moment.
"It's a very anxious time for us all."
Ms Roberts is believed to be wearing dark blue trousers, a lime green singlet with a symbol on the front, a cream or green cap, red-rimmed glasses and a thin, knee-length black and white chequered coat.
She is described as a medium build European, 175cm tall, with brown, curly hair.
She was driving a dark blue Nissan Cefiro saloon car, registration UH9394.
- NZPA
