Police are appealing for information regarding missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao.
A post on the Canterbury police Facebook page said Bao, 44, had been reported missing, and her family and police had “concerns for her welfare”.
Her car, a silver Nissan Dualis, registration PKT556, was located nearby at Iroquois Place, Wigram.
“It’s highly unusual, out of character, and police are concerned for her wellbeing,” Reeves told The New Zealand Herald.
Her partner Paul Gooch was too distraught to speak today. But a family member told the Herald about their distress at what feels to be a “surreal” situation. Bao’s disappearance was totally out of character, he said.
She has a young daughter, while her personal possessions including passport, money, and clothes is at her family home in Avonhead.
”There is nothing indicating that she has disappeared to another country or another city or anything,” the family member said.
She has never disappeared or gone out of communication before, he said. Before she vanished, nothing out of the ordinary had happened to her that anyone noticed.
”It’s surreal,” he said.
”This stuff doesn’t happen in Christchurch or this country.“
”We’re trying to keep it as positive as possible... she got lost, you know.”
Bao’s friends and colleagues have been out searching today while the family have been told by police to stay by the phones.
Police were seen searching the old Wigram Airforce Base on Thursday afternoon.
Bao had recently started working at Harcourts’ Wigram branch. Branch manager Hamish McLeod told the Herald she was not at work yesterday, and staff did not know what had happened.
The branch had stopped working and more than 40 real estate agents were helping search for her.
Bao’s profile on the Harcourts site said she has “extensive experience” in sales, and was previously a top-selling salesperson in a major electronics brand.
“She reached the status of Apple Master, which is a rare achievement. She is highly educated and capable with a Master’s degree in English linguistics and a post-graduate diploma in business management and is ready to utilise the knowledge she gained from her academic achievements to enhance the result she delivers for clients and customers.”
Family was her “priority”, and she loved spending time with her partner and young daughter.
“In her spare time, she loves to read, and her other interests include travel and learning something new every day. If you are looking for a highly educated, passionate, and hard-working salesperson to assist you in buying or selling your most important asset, give Yanfei a call, as she would love to hear from you.”
- Call 111, quote event number P055385539.
