Police: Girl's disappearance not necessarily foul play

Police divers after their search for missing 15-year-old Olivia Rutherford on the Wellington waterfront. Photos / Mark Mitchell

Wellington police are continuing to appeal to any friends of missing teenager Olivia Rutherford who may be hiding her to contact them.

The 15-year-old was last seen by friends on Manners St, in downtown Wellington, about 6pm on Friday.

Her bag and wallet were found on a bridge near the waterfront on Saturday morning.

A team of divers today scoured the waterfront between Frank Kitts Park and the Taranaki St wharf, while searchers combed parks and bush around the city boundaries, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell told reporters at a press conference today.

Police were keeping an open mind about what has happened to the St Mary's College student.

"We're not specifically thinking this is foul play, however, we have to be open-minded that that is a possibility."

Police were today looking at CCTV footage from Manners mall and from the central city.

"We've spoken with some of Olivia's friends and have got a bit of an insight into what has gone on."

Olivia was upset on the day she disappeared, but Mr Borrell would not reveal why she was feeling that way.

"Teenagers can be emotional and we believe she has been fragile and upset on Friday."

If friends were helping her to keep low, they should contact police to let them know she was safe, Mr Borrell said.

"I urge if there's friends who are thinking they're doing the right thing by keeping her with them, that we need to know where she is and if she's safe," he said.

"If that's the case here, there's a lot of people very, very concerned about Olivia, particularly her family and school friends, principal and obviously us as well."

Police were investigating a call Olivia's school received on Friday morning from a woman saying Olivia was sick and would not be going to school that day.

"We're following that up with the principal from St Mary's," Mr Borrell said.

Police were monitoring Olivia's cellphone, but the last message was sent on Friday evening, about 6pm.

"The longer this goes on without her surfacing the more our concerns are going to be."

They were also watching her bank account, but would not say if it had been used since she was last seen.

Olivia's mother, Elizabeth Rutherford, said at a press conference yesterday it was out of character for her daughter not to keep in touch.

"She's always really communicative," she told the Dominion Post.

"If she's staying late after school, she'll text me. She's a really good girl, she's a careful and organised sort of person."

Olivia was described as a light skinned European of thin build, about 160cm (5ft 3in) tall, with strawberry blonde hair and blue coloured dental braces.

She was wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a blue cardigan.

- NZPA