It has been 10 days since Kerikeri woman Cristel de Vetten was reported missing by her partner, who believes she was kidnapped.
John Craven said yesterday he believed Ms de Vetten, 30, had not "passed to the other side".
He said it was out of character for her to leave
the rural property they shared with Ms de Vetten's four-year-old son Jaxon, in Northland.
"I think someone's come and taken her," he said.
"Cristel wouldn't walk off without letting me know what she was doing. Her purse, her keys, her car, everything's here."
A team of more than 12 police were searching for her amid growing fears she may not be found alive.
Northland iwi liaison officer Senior Constable Paddy Whiu told NZPA yesterday they would not give up the search until they had a better idea of what might have happened to her.
He said there had been a good response from the community but the police still needed the public's help.
Mr Craven said on the morning Ms de Vetten disappeared he got up early to burn some gorse, then returned to make Ms de Vetten and Jaxon breakfast.
He said WINZ staff visited that morning and an arrangement was made to meet again later that day in Kerikeri.
Ms de Vetten had also arranged to drop Jaxon at McDonald's with her ex-partner, with whom she had had a custody row over Jaxon since their split about a year ago.
- NZPA
