Police search for missing 80 year old Stoke Valley woman, missing since yesterday afternoon

Police have concerns for the well-being of an elderly Maori lady who went missing from a Stokes Valley address around noon yesterday.

Rangi Boynton, aged 80, was last seen in the back yard of the Manuka Street home of family members where she has been staying since August.

Police Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Jo Holden says Police checked neighbouring addresses, streets and shops yesterday afternoon to no avail and search teams consisting of Police and Land Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers continued the search into the night but also failed to find any trace of Mrs Boynton. Family members also spent several hours looking for her.

Rangi Boynton is of slight build and suffers from osteo-arthritis which makes her walk with a hunch. Her hands are quite gnarled from arthritis. She normally wears her silver grey hair tied up in a bun.

"Family advised Police that she has only been living in Stokes Valley a short time and does not know the area well. She speaks fluent Maori which is her preferred language."

Sergeant Holden says when last seen, Rangi Boynton was wearing black track pants and a black polar fleece zip up jacket with an embroidered Jim Beam logo on the left front chest and had black ugg-boots on.

Sergeant Holden is urging anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mrs Boynton to phone Police immediately.