A young Auckland woman has vanished after telling friends she was going for a run at a west coast beach.
Kim Bambus, 21, was last seen in Ponsonby yesterday morning when she told friends she was going to Piha for a run.
Her car has been found on Log Race Rd, Piha at the entrance to Ahu Ahu Track (Mercer Bay loop track).
Her sister Storm Bambus and close friends were frantic with worry, waiting near where Kim's car was found.
Their parents had been on their boat off Great Barrier Island when they heard the news and had sailed through the night to get back to Auckland. They were expected to arrive at Piha soon.
"I got a call last night from one of Kim's close friends saying that she was missing and that they'd gone to Piha and found her car," Storm said.
"I drove down last night and obviously the search and rescue started. There were helicopters all last night, dogs searching for her."
Searchers were concentrating on the area around where her car was found.
"We're assuming that she went for a run or a walk there and she hasn't been heard of since."
Kim had just started working as a registered nurse at Middlemore Hospital a couple of months ago.
"She's awesome," Storm said. "I couldn't ask for a better sister."
The family is from the Bay of Islands but Kim moved to Auckland about four years ago.
Storm said she last spoke to Kim on Tuesday or Wednesday, when they chatted for about 45 minutes.
"Pretty much it's just a waiting game now. We're hoping now that the media's involved that people will get in touch with the police with any information - if they saw her walking or anything - so that we can build a timeline and narrow the search area or get an idea of where she was or wasn't. That's what we really need now."
Bambus was wearing a dark coloured jacket, pink exercise top, black shorts and black and white Nike running shoes.
Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was carrying a large water bottle.
Search and rescue coordinator Scott Iszard said helicopters had conducted a shoreline search this morning, 3km in each direction.
Land-based volunteers had also been scouring the area's many walking tracks while surf lifeguards had sent out a boat to search the ocean and coast.
"There been very little clues. We've been out since 1am, we've had a dog out and there's been nothing so far," he said.
There was no indication that foul play was involved.
The search will commence again in the morning.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen her to contact Auckland Police on (09) 09 302 6400.
'We know this is difficult news for them (the tramper's family).'