Search still on for missing Hutt woman

  • 22/07/2016
(Supplied)
(Supplied)

Family and friends of a missing mentally impaired woman in Upper Hutt say her disappearance is "out of character".

62-year-old Mary Berrington was last seen at her home by her daughter at 9pm on Tuesday night, with family friend Daniel Talbot saying Ms Berrington has "literally just disappeared".

Search still on for missing Hutt woman

Mr Talbot says a group is meeting at his Upper Hutt warehouse on Friday morning to coordinate their search.

"I've started to print of lots of leaflets with Mary's photo on it," he says.

"It is bizarre that she's gone missing - it's out of character. Hopefully all the people of Upper Hutt will find out about it today… she must be around, out there somewhere."

He says getting a large number of people contributing to the search is vital to ensuring Ms Berrington's safety.

"We just need to get lots of public involved in looking for Mary - that's really important," he said.

"The more people that check sheds and backyards and places like that that Mary could be - she could be anywhere, so we need the public to check that."

Police have reiterated the message to residents in Wallaceville and Whakatiki, telling them to check their backyards, sheds and garages as Ms Berrington may be hiding or taking shelter.

However Sergeant Anthony Harmer said there have been some additional struggles in the search, given Ms Berrington's poor mental condition.

"We know that she's off her meds at this point," he said.

"The fact that she's been out so long, to the best of our knowledge, we're treating it that she's not in a sheltered place.

"That puts her in danger - it's been cold, with poor weather coming in for the weekend - so the effort is being expended to find Mary before then."

Sgt Harmer said Ms Berrington has been known to hide deliberately, in the assumption that she has done something wrong.

"We have know her in the past to hide in trees, hide in bushes [and] not respond to people calling for her - that makes this search particularly difficult," he said.

"In Mary's mind she may think she's done something wrong - she certainly hasn't."

Newshub.