Missing woman's family desperate for clues to disappearance

Jamie Kawai's car was found at Tolaga Bay wharf soon after she disappeared. Photo: RNZ

By Eleisha Foon of RNZ

The family of a Māori woman who disappeared at Tolaga Bay last year is pleading with the public to help them continue searching for her.

Jamie Kawai's car was found at Tolaga Bay wharf soon after she disappeared.

It's been 87 days since Jamie Kawai disappeared on 10 October last year after her car, with keys left in the ignition and belongings inside, was found at Tolaga Bay wharf.

The police searched for the 27-year-old in November last year, and said her disappearance was not considered suspicious - but her family think otherwise.

The missing woman's family have launched a social media campaign to raise awareness for her which has gained thousands of shares online.

A cousin of Kawai, Jonique Oli-Alainu'uese, said all missing women should get the same attention.

In a social media post she said "Does being a young Māori mother make her less deserving of the same attention that as a nation, we give to the likes of Grace Millane? Can we truly say, that had she been a tourist or a caucasian, NZ would know her name by now?"

Oli-Alainu'uese had been updating police but doesn't think the investigation had gone far enough and hoped to find new evidence pointing to the truth.

"Their lack of thorough investigation to rule out foul play, has cost my family precious time and prolonged despair. Time that I then had to make up by investigating myself, to find enough information just to get police to look again."

The family said they're worried something sinister may have happened to her.

"We believe she is close to Tolaga Bay, 10-30km north. My final plea is that if you're out hiking, tramping, hunting, walking, in and around abandoned homes, shorelines, rivers that you keep her in mind," Oli-Alainu'uese said.

Her body may be around Mangatuna and Mangatokerau and ask anyone going through the area to keep her in mind, she said.

- RNZ