Missing teen may have left message at school

Olivia Rutherford. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating the disappearance of Wellington teenager Olivia Rutherford now believe she may have been the person who left a message at her school excusing her absence on Friday.

The 15-year-old St Mary's College pupil has not been seen since she said goodbye to friends about 6pm that day and police have not ruled out foul play.

Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell said police would today trace phone records in order to determine exactly who left a message on the St Mary's College absentee line on Friday.

"Our feeling is that it is likely to be Olivia," he told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Borrell said police were exploring the possibility that friends with a "misplaced sense of loyalty" might be sheltering the teenager, whom they described as "fragile" and "upset" on the day she vanished.

He would not reveal why she was feeling that way.

Mr Borrell urged any friends with information about Olivia's whereabouts to contact police and not be fearful of the consequences.

"We'd like to hear from them and they won't be in any trouble at all."

Police are monitoring Olivia's cellphone, which has not been used since the time she was last seen.

"We will be alerted by the (cellphone service) providers should that phone become live."

Olivia's bag and wallet were found on a bridge near the waterfront on Saturday morning.

Mr Borrell said the teenager's bank account had not been touched since she disappeared.

A team of police divers will today continue the yesterday's search of the waterfront, close to where her bag was found.

Olivia's mother, Elizabeth Rutherford, said earlier it was out of character for her daughter not to keep in touch.

Olivia was described as a light skinned European of thin build, about 160cm tall, with strawberry blonde hair and blue coloured dental braces.

She was wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and a blue cardigan.

- NZPA