Leigh residents conducting their own searches for an elderly woman missing for five days are being discouraged from doing do for safety reasons.
Missing woman Maree Wilkins Photo: NZ Police
Maree Wilkins, 84, disappeared from the Whangateau rest home Leigh Road Cottage, just south of Leigh, on 8 November.
Police say an extensive and detailed on-the-ground search for Mrs Wilkins has now been scaled back, though a police helicopter continued to look for her today.
But some local residents say they're puzzled and angry their offers to help in the search were shunned by the police.
Leigh resident Mike Francis said he and his wife joined in the search on Wednesday evening when Mrs Wilkins first went missing.
He volunteered to help in the search over the next few days but said the police never got back to him.
"We're all puzzled ... nobody really understands why they didn't ask the community for help. There would have been 400 people down there."
It was also puzzling why the police had not involved the local volunteer fire brigade who were trained in search and rescue techniques, senior fire officer and local resident Tony Enderby said.
Not willing to stand by and do nothing locals were carrying out their own searches, he said.
But doing so could put people in unnecessary danger, a police sergeant warned.
"If we have people searching rugged terrain it can potentially put them at risk.
"Our main concern is around safety because our searchers are specially trained and equipped with gear that allows them to search well and accurately tracked by GPS."
Offers of help from the public would be taken up "if appropriate", he said.
Community members on the Love Leigh Facebook page expressed their frustration at the lack of police response and effort in the search.
They questioned why properties close to the rest home were not searched until two or three days after Mrs Wilkins disappearance.
The sergeant said an "extensive and specialist" search had been done and police were seeking any information about Maree Wilkins that might help their inquiry.
"Whether it be background or second hand information passed to them, we would like to investigate any potential sightings and we'll keep an open mind going forward."
Police were investigating two sightings of Mrs Wilkins, including one in Warkworth.
She is described as 1.5m tall, frail and was wearing black dress pants and a multi-coloured sweatshirt.
They're urging anyone with information about her disappearance to get in touch.
A meeting was being organised for Tuesday evening to update the community on the police investigation, the sergeant said.