Film scan for last Carmen sightings

Carmen Thomas. Photo / Supplied

As the search for missing Auckland woman Carmen Thomas enters its fourth week, police continue the "slow, laborious" task of going through thousands of hours of CCTV footage to trace her last movements.

The 32-year-old's mother, Teresa Scott, flew from South Africa on Friday night and met the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Mark Benefield, at the weekend.

The mother of one, who worked as an escort at a gentlemen's club in Pakuranga, was last seen on July 1 and was last heard from on July 3 when she texted her boss. Her car was found in Hamilton's Dryer Rd on July 5.

Police have acquired CCTV footage from several Auckland and Hamilton businesses.

"It's a slow, laborious job," Mr Benefield said.

"You're looking at real time ... you can't just put her face in a machine and it'll pick her out and find her for us."

On Saturday, police were seen at Ms Thomas' Ngapuhi Rd home - a self-contained unit beneath the owner's house - removing a box. The front door and areas inside were covered in fingerprinting powder.

They were also intending to speak to a man who had been sending messages on social networking site Facebook claiming he had information about her disappearance, the Herald on Sunday reported.

Her family contacted police after receiving the messages but Mr Benefield would not be drawn on the content.

"We will assess what he's saying and we'll be speaking to him again."

Meanwhile, photos of Ms Thomas kissing All Blacks midfielder Ma'a Nonu on the cheek and embracing wing Anthony Tuitavake have emerged on Facebook.

The photo album, uploaded in September 2008, is entitled "great night out!!".

Mr Benefield told the Sunday News police were aware of the pictures but would not say whether they had contacted the rugby stars.

"There are several photographs of her on it in the company of people from all walks of life.

"As far as we know at this stage of the investigation, there is nothing sinister in any of the photographs posted by Carmen on her pages."

Ms Thomas' family have set up a bank account for donations for her mother's flight and expenses while in New Zealand.

* A Japanese woman missing in Auckland since last Friday was yesterday found in a city hotel.

Risa Matsuura, a 32-year-old New Zealand resident, took her 19-month-old daughter to a Remuera daycare centre about 8.30am on Friday but did not return to her Princes Wharf apartment in the central city.

Inspector Kerry Watson said the woman would soon be reunited with her daughter.

Can you help?

* Anyone with information on Ms Thomas' disappearance should contact police on 0800 KEPPEL - 0800 53 77 35, via email address whereiscarmen@police.govt.nz or call anonymously on 0800 555 111.