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Thirteen days after Iraena Asher went missing Piha was turned upside down yesterday by a chastised police force, searching for the part-time model who vanished into the night.
For some residents it was the sixth time officers had knocked on the door in almost two weeks.
But when police went searching this time it was with the condemnation of Iraena's bereft family ringing in their ears.
A letter from the family in yesterday's Weekend Herald was severely critical of the police.
Adding to possible tension is the family's hope Iraena left Piha, which has been heavily searched, and the police belief she never did.
Detective Senior Sergeant John Sutton said a roadblock had been set up on Piha Rd - the only road out of the township - within an hour of the last sighting of Iraena.
"We have no evidence to believe she has left the area," he said. "We know the family is hopeful she may have, but we have no evidence. The family have expressed that they are hopeful and we share their hopes. However, we have grave concerns."
An eight-year-old girl was wandering the road with her skateboard yesterday, seeking out police officers. "I want to tell them I had a dream Iraena Asher was in a tent on a hill and I found her there. Then I woke up crying," she said.
Everyone has a theory. At the time Iraena was last seen, the tide was at its lowest and a strong offshore wind was blowing. The outgoing Piha surf has a strong pull and Iraena had already returned from the beach earlier in the day, wet and covered in sand.
Like hundreds of other residents at Piha, Tom Cagwin, 71, has already gone through police questioning. Again, for the "third or fourth time", an officer visited with more questions.
Mr Cagwin welcomed the officer in, as always, and co-operated as much as he was able. "Someone must know what happened to her ... someone ..." he said.
Henderson police Constable Dean Broomfield, one of 20 officers going door to door yesterday, said: "People are really concerned about the welfare of Iraena."
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
Scolded police turn Piha over yet again
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