Police divers search for missing girl

File photo / Martin Sykes

A police dive squad is scouring the Wellington waterfront as the search for missing teen Olivia Rutherford continues.

The 15-year-old was last seen by friends on Manners St, in downtown Wellington, about 6pm on Friday.

Her bag and wallet were found on a bridge near the waterfront on Saturday morning.

A team of six divers were this morning searching the waterfront between Frank Kitts Park and the Taranaki St wharf, including the lagoon, Senior Sergeant John Bryant of the Wellington police maritime unit said.

"It's a process of elimination as part of the search of the immediate area where her belongings were located."

"Olivia was last seen in the CBD so it makes sense to search the waterfront due to its proximity to the city centre," Sergeant Matt Boyce said.

"Staff are canvassing parks and open areas as well."

Wellington police communications manager Constable Elizabeth Young said police were this morning establishing where the inquiry should be focused next.

Police had spoken to a number of people, and were urging anyone with information to come forward.

Olivia's mother, Elizabeth Rutherford, said at a press conference yesterday it was out of character for her daughter not to keep in touch.

"She's always really communicative," she was quoted as saying in the Dominion Post.

"If she's staying late after school, she'll text me. She's a really good girl, she's a careful and organised sort of person."

Olivia was described as a light skinned European of thin build, about 160cm (5ft 3in) tall, with strawberry blonde hair and blue coloured dental braces.

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

- NZPA