Police abandon search for missing woman

Police are today door-knocking near the Rimutaka Forest Park for information about Kaye Stewart after the search for the Wellington woman missing since Monday was called off.

Police suspended the search for the 62-year-old last night after three full days of searching failed to find any trace of her.

Sergeant Joanne Holden of Wellington Search and Rescue said today it was "highly unlikely" Mrs Stewart could have survived four cold nights in the bush.

Suspending the search was a "horrible decision" for police to make, she told NZPA.

"Especially for the family. While we're out there doing something, there's hope."

Police spokeswoman Kaye Calder said today Lower Hutt CIB would continue its background inquiries into Mrs Stewart's unexplained disappearance.

Police would today door-knock on the Wainuiomata Coast Road to see if anyone saw her on the road or in the Catchpool area where her car was found, she told NZPA.

There were also many loggers and construction workers working in the area who may have seen her.

Police could not rule out foul-play, Ms Calder said.

"What we've said is we have to keep all options open."

Police had been working closely with Mrs Stewart's family and it was possible they would continue to search themselves.

Mrs Stewart was last seen about midday on Monday when she asked a Department of Conservation worker for directions back to her car after talking an hour-long walk through the park.

The 2km walk back to her car should have taken about 30 minutes.

In the past few days more than 40 volunteer civilian searchers, infra-red-equipped helicopters, search dog and police divers have scoured the park's main tracks, banks and streambeds.

Mrs Stewart was a physiotherapist for the All Blacks in the 1980s and has been described as reasonably fit but not especially bush-wise.

Police were alerted to her disappearance after she failed to meet family as arranged.

- NZPA