Police have hit out at a "so-called friend" who used deception to take the car of a missing woman and on-sell it without permission.
Rae Portman has not contacted family or accessed her bank accounts since June 20, when she drove her silver Volkswagon Passat to Auckland and checked in
to a motel.
The car had failed a warrant, despite her purchasing it for $2000 about a week earlier, and she was taking it to a friend to repair.
After Ms Portman was reported missing on July 2, the friend who was meant to repair the vehicle told her family it was available for them to pick up, police said.
Detective Inspector Mark Gutry said the man was soon contacted by a woman who claimed she was picking it up on behalf of the Portman family.
