10 May 2010

More forest areas searched for missing woman

4:31 pm on 10 May 2010

Police search teams are looking through additional forest areas north of Whanganui as they continue the hunt for a missing woman.

Marice McGregor, 45, was last seen collecting pine cones in the Lismore Forest area about 20km north of Whanganui on 19 April.

Her red Suzuki was later found abandoned there with her walking shoes and wallet inside.

Police say new search areas have been created from their analysis, from reported sightings of Ms McGregor's car and a green people-mover van she was near on the day of her disappearance.

Teams including Search and Rescue members are still combing Lismore Forest and other areas further north along State Highway 4.

Meanwhile, police have identified Ms McGregor's cell phone, which they are looking for. It is a silver and black clamshell Samsung, model W531.

The cellphone was briefly switched on in the Feilding area on 20 April.