A coroner's inquest into the unsolved disappearance of Aucklander Iraena Asher will begin today, almost eight years after she was last seen.
The disappearance of the 25-year-old university student and model led to a shake-up over how police handled 111 calls after she phoned for help in Piha on October 2004.
Police sent her a taxi, but it went to Paihia Road, Onehunga instead of Piha. She was never seen again.
At the time of her disappearance police said there was a high probability Asher had wandered into the surf and drowned in the early hours of the morning. Foul play was also considered but police ruled out suicide.
The night Ms Asher disappeared she had been socialising at a Piha house with friends. She left the address after calling 111, saying she felt scared and was being pressured for sex.
She started walking and was picked up by Piha local Julia Woodhouse, who took her home and gave her a hot shower and a cup of tea but Asher left the house abruptly at 1.10am.
She was apparently naked when last seen by a couple walking their dog about 2am. They saw her march down the road towards the beach.
The hearing begins today and is set down for four days.
