The family of a missing woman Denise Potter say they have been humbled by the amount of support shown by the public of Dunedin in searching for her.
Many Dunedin people, many of whom do not know the Potter family personally, are scouring the city's parks, reserves and properties for the Alexandra woman, who has been missing in the city since Monday, after her family set up a Facebook page urging people to help.
Mrs Potter's husband Steve and daughter Sharelle fronted a media conference at the Dunedin Police Station this afternoon to make a plea to people in the vicinity of Carroll St, where Mrs Potter was last seen, and nearby suburb Mornington, to check their properties for any sign of her.
Mr Potter said the response from the public towards helping in the search was awesome.
The family was still very focussed on the search and it was frustrating there had so far no sign of her so far.
"We just need to find Denise really."
He said they did not think Mrs Potter would have gone too far, as she was tired and had no shoes on and plead with people in the vicinity to search sheds, alcoves, any cubby hole at all.
Earlier, police urged those helping to search for her to stay safe themselves.
Detective Hayden Smale said with "so many people out there searching in a range of locations, they must make sure they remain safe and keep in groups."
He and Mr Potter urged searchers to keep to public areas.
"If they have any suspicions that Denise may have ventured into private property, they should contact police and let them know on 03 471 4800," Det Smale said.
"Members of the community must remember that while we are all focussed on locating Denise.
"We are also aware of a number of potential sightings that have been posted on Facebook. Unfortunately Police haven't been able to find all of these comments, and we urge anyone who does have information to report it to the Dunedin Central Police Station, rather than posting it on Facebook."
Any members of the public who may have seen Denise, or knew where she was, should contact the Dunedin Police Station on 03 471 4800.
Denise was last seen wearing dark blue denim jeans, a two-toned black and grey long sleeved three-quarter buttoned shirt with white cuffs, and no footwear.
Denise is described as slim with light brown coloured hair that is collar length.
So far more than 4500 people have liked the Facebook page "Missing Person, Denise Potter" on which friends, family and members of the public are providing updates and information on areas that need to be and have been searched.
Among the hundreds of comments on the page are many from Dunedin people who have searched their properties and a call from a real estate agent for other agents to check empty houses.
Residents of the city are checking walking tracks, parks, and reserves and reporting back to the site.
Mrs Potter's family delivered hundreds of leaflets and posted as many flyers around Dunedin on Wednesday in an attempt to gain any leads on her whereabouts.
Miss Potter said family and friends had divided into five search teams.
Her mother did not have a history of wandering off and was completely out of character, Ms Potter said.
The family are asking people to check their properties and have posted on the Facebook pages photos and a description of what Mrs Potter was wearing when she went missing.
''Someone must have noticed her.''
Ms Potter said the family and police needed anyone who might have any information, ''no matter how small'', to come forward.
''It's so hard not having any leads.''
Police have also been searching in Alexandra, where Mrs Potter lives.
Police and the family are urging members of the public with any information or sightings to contact the Southern District Command Centre on (03) 471 5002
