Northland police say the difficulty in finding a 90-year-old woman who survived two nights in the open may have been because she had been moving about during the time she was lost.
June Wickman left her home in Maunu, west of Whangarei, early on Tuesday morning to visit a bird recovery centre, but strayed onto the Maunu reserve.
Her grandson found her, stuck in mud, on the outskirts of the Maunu Reserve and Barge Showgrounds on Thursday afternoon - 500 metres from her destination.
Mrs Wickman's son Dean says police had helped the family continue the search even though all possible areas had been checked.
Constable Spence Penney of Onerahi police, who led the search and rescue operation, says he's delighted Mrs Wickman has been found.
He believes she may have been more mobile than they'd expected a 90-year-old to be, and may not have been at the same spot the whole time.
Constable Penney says the search was never called off, but all possible areas had been thoroughly searched over the three day operation.
Dean Wickman says his mother was chirpy when she was found, and aside from a minor back injury, is in good condition.
He says by the time his mother was found he'd been expecting to find a body so it was a huge relief that she managed to survive despite having no food, water or medication with her.
Mr Wickman says his mother is likely to spend a week in Whangarei Hospital. Mrs Wickman has mild Alzheimers disease.
