Police following new leads in Mona Blades mystery

By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Renewed publicity into a 30-year-old mystery involving hitch-hiker Mona Blades has sparked new information for police.

More than 100 calls have been made to a hotline launched by police following a decision to reopen an inquiry into her disappearance.

A truck driver saw the 18-year-old getting into an orange Datsun stationwagon on the Napier-Taupo road on May 31, 1975. Witnesses later saw the car stopped on Matea Rd, on the way to Napier.

She was never seen again and none of her personal belongings have ever been recovered.

Detective Inspector Garth Bryan of the Rotorua CIB is leading a team of three officers working on the inquiry.

Publicity about the case, including a documentary aired on television on Sunday, has prompted 100 callers from around New Zealand to ring the 0800 MONA BLADES hotline so far.

A handful of callers had not discussed the case with police before, Mr Bryan said.

"A few people have rung us for the first time and there has been new information. Anything and everything about the case is of interest to us." A lot of the information was related to where her body might be found.

Although nearly 30 years had passed since she disappeared, the case was well remembered, he said.

"Anybody aged 10 and over back in 1975 has a strong memory of what happened because investigations of that scale didn't happen very often back then."

Police initially working on the case focused on three suspects.

One has since committed suicide, and Mr Bryan said they would not be speaking with the other two unless there was new information linking one of them to the disappearance.

This week police are taking information from each caller and recording their contact details.

Depending on how much information was received, it was possible more police would be recruited to the inquiry, Mr Bryan said.

Meanwhile, police are disappointed at the public's slow response to pleas for information about a recent spate of arson attacks in Rotorua.

Last Thursday, an offender lit a trail of fires, starting at the Te Ngae Community Police Centre before moving to the Rotorua Courthouse and Rotorua Girls' High School. The fires caused thousands of dollars' damage and forced the courthouse to close for two days.

Police staff have been forced out of the Te Ngae station while it undergoes repairs and at least one classroom at Rotorua Girls' High School has been declared off limits for several weeks.

A white car was seen speeding away from the station just before the fire was discovered but no-one had come forward with any more information related to the arsons, Mr Bryan said.

"I'm confident there are people out there who know about what occurred that morning. Any information will be treated in a confidential manner and anonymity is ensured if it's requested."