Police and search and rescue combing Greenpark farmland in Canterbury in connection to the homicide case. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
The detective in charge of the Yanfei Bao homicide investigation says items found so far have created positive lines of inquiry.
The 44-year-old was last seen in the Christchurch suburb of Hornby nearly three weeks ago. Her disappearance is now a homicide investigation.
Search efforts were continuing on rural land near Lake Ellesmere, with police and search and rescue staff meticulously checking paddocks by foot, about 30 kilometres south of the city.
"They're currently walking the paddock about three metres apart, shoulder to shoulder. We also have specialist search who are here and will be doing different parts, a lot in the tree lines," Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said.
Each day the search area was being reviewed and refined, based on what had been uncovered and information from the wider investigation, she said.
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
"We are determined to find Yanfei Bao. We have searched in a number of places around Christchurch and we have a particular focus in the Greenpark, Tai Tapu area."
Reeves declined to comment on what had been found so far but said police expect to keep combing farmland in the area for the next day or two.
She also declined to comment on whether search teams had completed water-based searches.
Resources had previously been focused on the Halswell River and Lake Ellesmere nearby.
A 52-year-old man had been charged with Bao's kidnapping and further charges were possible, Reeves said.