The search for Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has been temporarily paused.
Bao, 44, disappeared on July 19 while out door-knocking as part of her role as a real estate agent in the Christchurch suburb of Wigram.
A week later, police upgraded her disappearance to a homicide investigation. Since then extensive searches have been carried out across the city, including multiple properties and waterways.
A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged with kidnapping Bao. He was arrested at Christchurch Airport trying to flee the country. He is due to appear in court on Tuesday.
On Monday, Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said police are temporarily pausing the search for Bao while "further areas of interest can be prepared for search activity".
"Over the past several weeks, we have committed significant resources to searching areas of interest, including waterways south of Christchurch," Det Insp Reeves said.
"Police remain committed to locating Ms Bao and returning her to her family."
Last Tuesday police revealed several items of interest had been found while searching for Bao in the outskirts of Christchurch.
Reeves didn't reveal what the items were or who they belonged to but said she was confident the 44-year-old's body would be found.
"We've got a really dedicated and invested investigation team who have skin in the game for this inquiry," she told Newshub. "We are determined and very hopeful that we will bring Yanfei home.
"We're assessing information that comes into the investigation, we have the very best expertise within the investigation and within the people that are coordinating the search for us - I'm very hopeful that we will find her and bring her home.
"Our hope will never fade… and we will exhaust all enquiries; whatever it is that we need to do, wherever we need to look."
Bao's family earlier paid tribute to the missing woman, calling her a "beloved wife and mother".
