The family of Christchurch woman Yanfei Bao are heading to New Zealand from China as Police step up their search for her body.
The 44-year-old went missing while out working as a real estate agent on Wednesday last week. What was initially a missing person's inquiry is now a homicide investigation.
It's a search from all angles. On the ground, in the water and now also from the air above Lake Ellesmere, just south of Christchurch.
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves told Newshub "we have a big search exercise happening today".
"[We're] trying to find Ms Bao. That would consist of well over 40 people, that's a mix of Police staff and our colleagues and volunteers."
Bao has now been missing for nine days and Police escalated their missing person's case to a homicide investigation two days ago.
Police have now been scouring a section of Halswell River near Greenpark for three days, and have also been doorknocking.
The search stretches across to eastern Christchurch where Police are conducting grid searches around Lake Terrace Road in Shirely and also in New Brighton.
"We've had in excess now of 200 pieces of information from the public which we are very very grateful for. We are chasing all of these down. Ms Bao's family are overwhelmed by the keenness and information from the public to help find her," Det Insp Reeves said.
Police are also searching for evidence of offending. Bao was last seen on Wednesday August 19 on Trevor Street in Hornby, where a vacant property for sale there remains cordoned off.
Police told Newshub Bao's family are coping remarkably well, they have support, and her family are on their way here to New Zealand from China.
"Police are still asking for sightings of the silver Mitsubishi, registration DPH101, we are particularly looking for sightings of that vehicle Thursday 20th July," Det Insp Reeves told Newshub.
