Bruce Wills' mother missing on farm

Fiona Wills

The mother of immediate-past Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills was today confirmed as the woman missing around the family's farm northwest of Napier.

Fiona Wills, 77, was reported missing on Tuesday evening on Trelinnoe Station, on Old Taupo Coach Road, about 5km off the Napier-Taupo highway and just east of Te Pohue.

Police were told she went to feed animals on the property about 6pm on Tuesday and hadn't returned. Mrs Wills suffers from dementia. The family began a search that night and alerted police, who called in the Lowe Corporation Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter.

Search co-ordinator Detective Wayne Steed said despite extensive foot, vehicle and air searches of the property over the last two days, there had been no sign of the woman.

She is described as Caucasian with white hair, slim and fit, about 1.6m tall. She was last seen wearing grey khaki pants, a long-sleeved back top and sandals. She was also carrying a clear plastic 5 litre measuring jug.

Mr Steed said police search and rescue and Hawke's Bay Landsar teams had scoured the large rural property looking for Mrs Wills. The Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter yesterday did an aerial search, but there have been no sightings of the woman.

Police were now appealing to motorists who had travelled on SH5 on Tuesday evening and yesterday who may have seen Mrs Wills in the area. Appeals have also been made to trucking companies who use the highway.

"SH5 is some distance from the farm property, but she may have walked to the highway in a disorientated state. Someone may have picked her up and she may have asked to be taken to another location," Mr Steed said.

Visitors to the 5ha Trelinnoe Gardens over the last few days were also being asked to contact police if they had seen Mrs Wills anywhere on the property during their visits there.

"The property is large and rugged in some parts and we have been extremely thorough in our searches. But unfortunately, there has been absolutely nothing to indicate where Mrs Wills might be. We are hoping someone may have seen her or perhaps picked her up if she did make her way to SH5," Mr Steed said.

Around 30 family friends and neighbours are continuing the search today and search and rescue teams will also be back on the ground.

Anyone who has seen Mrs Wills is urged to contact their nearest police station.