Search and rescue co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said the likelihood of finding Mrs Potter alive was unlikely.
The search had ''wound down'' but would continue until Mrs Potter - who was last seen in Mornington on March 30 - had been missing for two weeks.
The police search in the next few days would include commercial premises between Maitland, Princes and High Sts and he urged people returning to work to search business premises.
The family had been fantastic to work with since Mrs Potter went missing, Snr Sgt Benn said.
''They showed a lot of courage, a lot of strength and a lot of maturity in the decisions they've made.''
The family's search and mobilisation of volunteers had provided the ''best chance'' of Mrs Potter being found, he said.
Family spokesman Manu Panirau said the family took a break from searching yesterday and spent time together.
Many of the family would return to work this week but would continue the search when they could.
''We're not giving up.''
The family had tried their best and it was frustrating to have no result, Mr Panirau said.
''That is the toughest part ... we have done such an extensive search of Dunedin, and so have search and rescue, and nothing - no direction, no clues - it's a pretty big mystery.''
Snr Sgt Benn said the planned coastal search by inflatable boats between St Kilda and Boulder Beach yesterday was cancelled due to big swells stopping boats getting near the shoreline to search.
However, Snr Sgt Benn was involved in an aerial search between Blackhead and Boulder Beach and nothing was found.
Another aerial search of the coastline would be made this week, he said.
The sea currents and tides had not been conducive to the search, with very little washing up on Dunedin beaches, he said.
''That is going against us, if she has gone in the water.''
The main focus of the police search would be the coastline and Otago Harbour, he said.
After the aerial search yesterday, Snr Sgt Benn searched the Andersons Bay inlet from a kayak and found nothing of interest.
A LandSAR training session tonight would search for Mrs Potter, he said.
