Police have launched a search of the Christchurch red zone as they continue the hunt for missing woman Rowena Walker, who has not been seen since mid August last year.

Around 30 staff are combing an area of vegetation and waterways close to where the 39 year old was living at the time she disappeared.

The operation is expected to run for several days, potentially into Friday, with a drone to be deployed across more open ground.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said the search was about “being thorough and not ruling anything out.”

“We still don’t know what happened to Rowena or where she may be, but we are committed to finding her,” Detective Senior Sergeant Carolan said.

“There’s no evidence that Rowena left Christchurch before going missing, and we believe that she was in this area around the time that she disappeared.”

Police confirmed Walker had lived nearby.

The search forms part of a wider investigation that has included multiple search warrants and what officers describe as a “massive amount” of inquiry work since August 2025.

Detective Senior Sergeant Carolan said police held grave fears for Walker’s welfare, given the complete absence of any digital or physical trace since she vanished.

“It’s nearly impossible for a person to live their life without leaving a footprint of some kind,” she said. “Rowena hasn’t done that since mid August 2025, and that’s really concerning for us.”

She said officers were keeping an open mind about what the search might uncover, with even the smallest item potentially significant.

“I can’t predict what we might find here today, but in an investigation like this the smallest piece of evidence could be crucial in resolving it. It could be clothing, it could be personal belongings. We just have to keep a very open mind.”

Asked whether Ms Walker might still be alive, Detective Senior Sergeant Carolan said police were holding onto hope while also acknowledging the grim realities of the case.

“We very much hope that Rowena is alive and will be coming home, but we have to consider the possibility that that might not be the case.”

The area being examined was not chosen on the basis of any fresh tip, she said, but had long been on the investigation’s list of places to cover off.

“There’s nothing specific that we have that has led us here, such as information from the public. It’s just something that we need to cover off to be satisfied we’ve done everything we can.”

Walker’s whānau, largely based in Nelson, remain at the centre of the investigation.

Her mother is caring for her children and is in regular contact with police.

“She is making her way through life, very hopeful that Rowena will come home,” Detective Senior Sergeant Carolan said. “We are very mindful that it’s not just work. It’s about bringing a loved one home to their family.”

Rowena was much loved and is sorely missed by her whānau.