Missing man found dead: Victim is Michael Asher, father of model Iraena Asher who disappeared 19 years ago

The body of a man has been found in the search for missing West Auckland man Michael Asher - he is the father of model Iraena Asher who vanished without a trace at Piha 19 years ago.

Iraena Asher who disappeared in Piha on October 12, 2004. Michael Asher gives evidence at the Auckland District Court during the coroner's inquest into her death, Wednesday. 18 July 2012. Photo / Dean Purcell

Police confirmed that search and rescue teams made the discovery last night, about 7pm, in an area of bush in Glen Eden.

“Police believe it to be 73-year-old man Michael Piki Kotuku Asher.”

Asher was reported missing on Friday, December 30, and was last seen at his home on Glengarry Rd on Christmas Day.

Iraena Asher disappeared in 2004 after police sent a taxi to the wrong address following a 111 call.

Father of missing woman Iraena Asher

The circumstances surrounding his death are not known and the case has now been referred to the Coroner.

“Michael was a much-loved family member and our thoughts are with his whānau,” a police statement said.

Police also confirmed that the victim is the father of Iraena Asher, the 25-year-old West Auckland woman who went missing in 2004 and has never been found.

The young woman, a trainee teacher and model, disappeared in Piha on October of that year after making a distressed 111 call to Police.

The circumstances of her disappearance have long been controversial; after Police called a taxi for her instead of sending out a patrol car to investigate.

It was later revealed that the taxi was sent to the wrong address.

Not long after calling police, Iraena Asher was helped by a local woman and her son, who took her into their home for the night. She was warmed up, given food and had a bed made up for her in the family’s lounge.

However, Asher is said to have got up and walked back into the stormy night wearing only a dressing gown.

She was last seen by a couple out for a walk with their dog about 2am. They described Asher as being naked and walking towards the beach.

Betty and Mike Asher had carried out private searches for their daughter Iraena, who went missing in 2004. Betty died in 2019. Photo / Martin Sykes

A Coroner would later rule that the young woman had died, presumed drowned, and that her death was accidental.

In 2019, Asher’s mother, Betty Anne Asher, died in Auckland City Hospital less than three weeks after a tumour was diagnosed.

One of her daughters told the Herald at the time that the pain of their sister Iraena’s death never went away for the family.

“You learn to live with it, rather than get over it. It’s always there...it’s like living with a gaping hole in your life and in your heart.”

Their father Michael was described as having been an “absolute rock” for the family during that time.