Search for missing woman called off

The search for missing Wellington woman Kaye Stewart has been called off after 50 people spent another day combing the Rimutaka Forest Park.

No trace was found of the 62-year-old, who has been missing since going for a walk in the park near Wainuiomata more than two weeks ago.

The official search for Mrs Stewart finished at 3pm yesterday with as much ground as possible covered, Detective Senior Sergeant Soni Malaulau, of Lower Hutt, said.

"We can't be 100 per cent certain that Kaye isn't somewhere in there, but without further information, we've realistically done everything physically possible to find her in the park."

The inquiry team would continue background work for about another two weeks.

Mrs Stewart's husband, Bob Stewart, said the family had been struggling to understand her disappearance.

"It's a total mystery to us where she is and we're hoping that somebody out there will have some information."

Mrs Stewart was last seen asking for directions from Conservation Department staff.

She had wanted to know how to get back to her car about 2km away.

Her family raised the alarm when she didn't turn up to meet one of her daughters at 12.30pm in Wainuiomata.

Mr Stewart said the retired physiotherapist, his wife of 36 years, had been in good spirits and good health the day she set out to fill in some time before lunch.

He described his wife as "a loving, caring" woman, "out-going and popular".

Police resumed their official search of the forest park on Tuesday.

Mr Malaulau said he still wanted to hear from people who had been in the park on Monday, June 13, or in the Wainuiomata Coast Rd area.

"Sightings of Kaye, and information about a quad bike seen driving down the Forest Rd towards the Coast Rd about 1.45pm to 1.50pm, and a grey vehicle seen on the same stretch of road about 30 minutes later, are sought," he said.

A pair of glasses and a watch found near the falls in the park on Tuesday, turned out not to belong to Mrs Stewart.

- NZPA