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Yanfei Bao in a family photo provided by her sister Huafei.
The search for missing real estate agent and mother Yanfei Bao, 44, who is believed to have been murdered, will continue on Friday, with particular focus on Lake Ellesmere.
More people are expected to join the Christchurch police search, which has involved several search and rescue operators, including Surf Lifesaving.
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said Garden City Helicopters will assist with an aerial search, predominantly of Lake Ellesmere.
She said police had been out in large numbers, working to find and return Bao to her whānau.
Peter Meecham/Stuff
The police dive squad search the Halswell River, south of Christchurch, on Wednesday.
Bao’s disappearance escalated to a homicide investigation on Wednesday, a week after she disappeared.
She was last seen on Trevor St, Hornby, just before 10am on Wednesday, July 19. She was reported missing after failing to pick up her 9-year-old daughter from after school care.
Around 11.15am that day she had briefly called her friend Jin Tian, at one point asking Tian how someone Bao was working with could transfer $600,000 (more than 2.6 million RMB) from China to pay cash for a house.
Peter Meecham/Stuff
A Trevor St house was now the focus of an intense forensic examination.
Bao, a real estate agent for Harcourts, was due to show a prospective buyer through a property on Trevor St on the day she disappeared.
Police visited the property on July 20, but saw no obvious sign of anything sinister. Harcourts was allowed to host an open home three days later.
The property was now the focus of an intense forensic examination. It was due to go to auction this week, but that is now on hold.
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A 52-year-old man (who has temporary name suppression) was arrested on Saturday at Christchurch International Airport.
He had no bags and a one-way ticket to China. He was charged with kidnapping and is remanded in custody.
Iain McGregor/Stuff
Police searched the banks of the Avon River near Palmers Road in New Brighton on Wednesday.
No new charges have been laid against the man since the investigation escalated, but on Wednesday Reeves said it was being considered.
On Tuesday, police were seen searching farmland near Lake Ellesmere. The next day, the Police National Dive Squad took to Halswell River, while a police dog was seen walking along the edge of the river.
The Dive Squad were using sonar technology to search beneath the surface of the water and identify things of interest, Reeves said.
The investigation team still wants to hear from anyone who saw Bao’s Nissan Dualis (registration PKT556) after 12.30pm on July 19 and before 10.45pm the same day, where it was found on Iroquois Pl, Wigram.
Supplied
Police want to hear of sightings of this car, in relation to the disappearance of Yanfai Bao
Information can be given to police by calling 105 or online. Reference file 230720/5911.
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