Police have had a search underway at Lake Ellesmere today. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A house in the Christchurch suburb of Hornby which missing real estate agent Yanfei Bao was due to show to a prospective buyer has today been the focus of a forensic examination by police.
Tonight police also confirmed their presence in the Lake Ellesmere area relates to inquiries they are making for the Bao case.
In a brief statement, police said they would provide an update on planned search activities on Wednesday.
An officer at the Lake Ellesmere site. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Bao has been missing since last Wednesday when she went door knocking in a nearby suburb.
A man has been charged with kidnapping Yanfei Bao.
Yesterday the man appeared in the Christchurch District Court where he was given name suppression and remanded in custody.
This morning police set up a tent and a portable toilet out front of a house in Trevor Street, in Hornby.
The police set up at the Hornby house. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
The home, which still has a Harcourts for sale sign out the front, has been cordoned off with emergency tape.
The homeowner has confirmed that they were told last Wednesday that Yanfei Bao intended showing the house to a prospective buyer.
Today police forensic staff could be seen at work inside the home while a police guard was keeping watch outside.
One of the forensic team. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
A woman who lived on Trevor Street, who asked not to be named, said she saw the silver Mitsubishi car that police had been seeking sightings of on her street.
"When the police first arrived it didn't register with me, but then I heard one of the neighbours talking about it, and then it just clicked and I thought I remembered that car. It sat down Trevor Street, and sat there for a couple of days."
Another neighbour spoken to by RNZ, who also asked not to be named, said all of the police activity was unsettling but she was confident the police were doing their job.
She said that on Sunday police came door to door questioning neighbours and asked if people had seen anything out of the ordinary or had any security camera footage.
Another neighbour, Luke Southey, said the street was usually a nice quiet community. The situation was very concerning, he said.
"I just hope she is found safe, that's the main thing. I just wish for the best for the family and her, and that everything is not as bad as people anticipate and that she gets home safe, especially for her child."
Earlier today police said the Trevor Street house was the only property, or area, being examined. They said the investigation was ongoing but could not offer any further update.
Anusha Thogiti, who manages a cafe Bao visits in Wigram near her workplace, said it was upsetting that she still had not been been found.
"How can a person go missing just like that? It's so bad that we still can't find her. We all just hope she is safe wherever she is and we can find her very soon."
Yanfei Bao's partner, Paul Gooch said today that given the investigation was at a critical stage, he did not want to compromise the police inquiry or his wife's safety, and any update needed to come from the police.
Harcourts Wigram, Bao's employers, also said they had been told by police to not make any statement to the media.
A poster appeals for information about Yanfei Bao. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon