Police mystified by missing bridge-jumper

Police are searching for information on a missing Raglan woman. Photo / File

It remains a mystery to Raglan police what happened to a woman who has not been seen since jumping from a bridge over the harbour last night.

A search for the woman began soon after a member of the public said she had jumped from Wainui Bridge at about 9.45pm.

"She was seen to be walking across the bridge when a grey sedan stopped beside her and what appears to have been a verbal argument has developed," Senior Sergeant Kent Holdsworth said.

"The car drove off and the woman was seen to jump but not resurface. The car has returned to the bridge and stopped at the southern end for about five minutes but we don't know if the woman got into the car which was seen travelling with two people in it."

Raglan police, Coast Guard, Surf Life Saving and Search and Rescue staff and volunteers were involved in the search overnight but did not find the woman.

The search resumed at first light, but she still had not been found, Mr Holdsworth said.

Police have identified a man they would like to speak to, who was seen walking towards the beach from Raglan township and was seen running over to the side of the bridge where the woman jumped from. He then returned to the town about 30 seconds later.

"It may be that this man saw the woman surface and make her way to shore, if that is the case, or even if he didn't see anything we would still like to speak to him.

"Our investigations are simply concerned with the welfare of the woman. After a comprehensive land and water search and an extensive area canvas of persons of interest we are still no closer to identifying who this woman is and if she is ok."

Police have also not been able to find the driver of the grey sedan.