The death of a woman who disappeared in the Rimutaka Forest Park eight years ago has been ruled undetermined by the coroner.
A decision issued on Tuesday said Kaye Stewart, 62, died in the bush. She disappeared on 13 June and her body has not been found, despite numerous searches.
Coroner Garry Evans said Ms Stewart, who was a keen walker, was filling in time before meeting her daughter in Wainuiomata on the afternoon of her disappearance but failed to show.
He said he considered the possibilities of a staged disappearance, suicide, and foul play but there was no evidence to suggest that any of these happened.
He said Ms Stewart becoming lost in the bush and dying is the most likely explanation but the death remains undetermined due to a lack of evidence.
