Police change focus in search for missing woman

An overnight meeting between investigators and the family of an elderly Hamilton woman missing since early December highlighted a change in focus for those looking for her.

Audrey Gibson, 82, was last seen on Comries Rd, Queenwood on 02 December. Despite extensive searches by Police and family she hasn't been heard from since and her bank accounts remain untouched.

Head of Hamilton CIB, Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton, said challenges faced by the enquiry team in trying to corroborate sightings of Mrs Gibson, also known as Nana G, meant the last confirmed sightings of her had been bought back several hours.

"As we mentioned in last week's release, where as previously sightings had Nana G at a hairdresser's in the afternoon we are now in the position where the last confirmed sighting of her was between 9.30-11.00am, still on Comries Rd.

"That means we may be in the position that some people may have recalled seeing someone matching her description in the morning but discounted the sighting because of the at the time confirmed sightings later in the afternoon."

Mr Thornton said it was important that if anyone had discounted such a sighting that they made contact with Police.

"For instance we have a sighting of two elderly women at a bus stop on Comries Rd around 9.30am, despite appeals for information neither of those women have forward and we'd like to hear from them to either add to our information picture or rule them out of the enquiry."

Mr Thornton said with reported sightings of Audrey at several locations across Hamilton considerable time had been spent trying to corroborate each one.

"This was the case last Thursday when specialist Victim Recovery Dogs searched areas around Melville and Glenview.

"These searches were unsuccessful so we're hoping this appeal for further information, highlighting the earlier last confirmed sighting, will jolt someone's memory."

During last night meeting in Mangere Mrs Gibson's family acknowledged the wealth of support provided by the wider community not just in Hamilton but parts of the country further a field.

They said while acknowledging many women their grandmother's age had a similar description they hoped someone would recall speaking to their Nana who had a conversational trait of always calling people 'luv' or 'dear'.

Having printed t-shirts with their grandmother's picture on them and posting thousands of flyers while searching all over and around Hamilton the family were consolidating, working out their next step.


Police are keeping an open mind in regards to Audrey's disappearance and have not ruled anything out in regards to what may have become of her.

"From a Policing perspective the family have been fantastically proactive- we couldn't ask for more. The key for us now is being able to locate Audrey- to bring closure for the family," said Mr Thornton.


Anyone who believes they may have seen Audrey Gibson on or after 02 December is asked to contact Mr Thornton at the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 8586200. Alternatively information can be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers crimeline, 0800 555111