Police are set to begin searching a stretch of the Halswell River in relation to the disappearance of missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao one week after she was last seen.

Bao was last seen in the Wigram area about 10.30am on Wednesday. She has not been found but her cellphone was located on the Southern Motorway on Friday.

A 52-year-old Bryndwr man has been charged with kidnapping Bao. The Herald understands he had booked a last-minute one-way international flight. Police arrested him at Christchurch Airport; it’s believed he had no suitcases with him.

Police say they are not ruling out further charges.

As of Wednesday morning, Bao had still not been found.

A large police presence can be seen at the Halswell River, near Neills Rd, Lincoln. The road is taped off, and a mobile police base can be seen at the end of the road with several police officers and surf-life saving IRB.

The river is swollen from recent floodwater.

Police are searching the Halswell River in relation to missing woman Yanfei Bao. Photo / George Heard.

Police searched the same stretch of river in relation to the disappearance of Michael McGrath in 2017. McGrath has never been found.

Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said police are increasing their search activity in locations across Christchurch.

“Search activities will be taking place today in and around the Halswell River, and the nearby area of Greenpark.

“The Police National Dive Squad have been deployed to assist the investigation team”

The dive squad was expected to begin searching in the water today, however this was reliant on the water levels being at a safe level for staff.

The Police National Dive Squad are set to begin searching today. Photo / George Heard.

“Residents in the Greenpark area can also expect to see a police presence in the area searching for Ms Bao.

“We are keeping an open mind as to where Yanfei is and what may have happened to her, but we do have grave concerns at this time.

“As such, we are considering all possible lines of enquiry and making every effort to locate her.”

Search activities to find missing real estate agent Yanfei Bao are taking place today in and around the Halswell River. Photo / George Heard

Reeves acknowledged the police’s appreciation of the public’s assistance over the past few days.

“The investigation team has received a number of pieces of information and are working through each report.

“Every piece of information is valuable to understanding what has occurred since Ms Bao disappeared.”

Divers and boats have been called in. Photo / George Heard

On Tuesday, a police tent had been erected outside a home on Trevor St, Hornby as a forensic examination began.

Several scene investigators could be seen inside the property marking potential evidence, including what appeared to be a handprint on a window.

The investigators could be seen using torches inside the house and taking photographs.

Forensic staff are investigating a home on Trevor St, Hornby in relation to missing woman Yanfei Bao. Photo / George Heard

The Herald understands Bao was due to show a potential buyer through the house, which is for sale by Harcourts. The owners of the home, who are in Australia, told the Herald on Monday they had been told Bao was showing someone through the property.

Reeves earlier told NZME that police had received more than 120 pieces of information from the public.

The Herald understands a majority of the tips relate to a silver Mitsubishi sedan, registration DPH101.

Police are seeking sightings of this vehicle, a silver Mitsubishi sedan, registration DPH101. Photo / NZ Police

Police are seeking sightings of the car from mid-week until Saturday night, with a focus on the car’s location on Wednesday, July 19, in Wigram, Hornby, Tai Tapu, Halswell, Redcliffs and New Brighton.

The Herald understands police have also been searching a ditch near Lake Ellesmere.

Reeves told NZME police were still treating Bao as a “missing person”.

“We are still trying to locate her.

Police put an evidence marker beside what appears to be a handprint on a window inside the property. Photo / George Heard

“The concern continues to grow the longer that we don’t know where she is.”

Asked about a potential motive, Reeves said a big focus of the investigation would be to look into Bao’s background and her activities to “see who she may have crossed paths with ... to work out what the motivation might be. It’s too early to say what that is at this stage”.

The houses that were being searched were “places of interest” as a result of inquiries to date.

A 52-year-old Bryndwr resident appeared in the Christchurch District Court. Photo / George Heard

“Some of this is to rule places in as parts of interest, and sometimes it’s actually to rule places out as locations of interest.”

Police have to date searched three properties - one on Iroquois Place where Bao’s car was found, another property in Bryndwr where the alleged kidnapper lived, and the house on Trevor St.

Several people are “assisting” police with the investigation, dubbed Operation Helo.

Bao’s distraught husband, Paul Gooch, spoke to the Herald of his devastation at his wife’s disappearance.

“It’s just a nightmare,” he said at his Christchurch home in the west of the city.

“It still feels surreal ... I still can’t quite believe that this is all unfolding.”

Gooch said he remained hopeful for a positive outcome and that his wife will come home to him and their young daughter.

It's understood Bao was set to show a potential buyer through the home on the day of her disappearance. Photo / George Heard.

“Otherwise, it’s a very dark head space to be in,” he said.

“But it fluctuates for me ... it’s unbelievable, to be honest.”

Gooch became emotional when thanking the public, mutual friends, and family during the harrowing ordeal.

“I just want to thank them all so far for their wonderful support, which we really do appreciate,” he said, fighting back tears.

“They have all just been so kind.”

Police are interested in sightings of the vehicle from mid-week up until last night, but with a particular focus on the vehicle’s location on Wednesday, July 19, in Wigram, Hornby, Tai Tapu, Halswell, Redcliffs and New Brighton. Photo / NZ Police

Bao’s alleged kidnapper appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Monday before Judge Michael Crosbie.

Court documents allege the man “unlawfully took away Yanfei Bao without her consent with intent to cause her to be confined”.

The man, who was assisted by an interpreter, was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody to appear on August 15.

His lawyer said the man’s family had not been informed about his arrest.

Yanfei Bao, 44, was last seen in Wigram last Wednesday.

Friend spoke to Yanfei Bao after last sighting

One of Bao’s friends, Jin Tian, posted on her Facebook page that she had last spoken to Bao, whom she called Emily, at 11.16am on Wednesday on WeChat.

“She mentioned [something] about a potential client who wants to transfer money to NZ and checked about the rate and channel.

“Then she said she was going to call the person to see [what] he/she wanted and would call me back. And she did not,” Tian wrote.

In another post, Tian said she was not sure where Bao was when she called her.

On Friday, Reeves said police were “growingly concerned” for Bao.

“Ms Bao’s disappearance is unexplained, and a missing person investigation remains ongoing.

“She was last seen conducting her business as a real estate agent on Vickerys Rd in the Wigram area about 10.30am.

“Since then, she failed to pick up her daughter from after-school care, and her car, a silver Nissan Dualis, has been located nearby the area she was last seen on Iroquois Place.

Police are searching a home on Iroquois Place in Wigram. Photo / George Heard

Reeves said the longer Bao was missing, the more police concerns would grow.

She said the fact she didn’t have her cellphone, which was found in bushes at the side of the Southern Motorway, was particularly concerning.

Reeves earlier said the last person who saw Bao was a homeowner whom Bao had visited.

“We are now interested to hear from any members of the public who might have been travelling on the motorway on Wednesday and noticed anything out of the ordinary.

“Anyone with any piece of information, no matter how small, is encouraged to contact police immediately.

“Police have also been conducting door-to-door inquiries in the area she was last seen.

“If you live in this area and have not spoken with police but have access to CCTV footage of the street area, police would like to hear from you.

“I would like to reiterate that police and Ms Bao’s family are deeply concerned for her safety. This is very out of character, and her loved ones are desperate to hear from her and know she is safe.”

Yanfei Bao was last seen about 10.30am on Wednesday on Vickerys Rd, Wigram, where she was 'carrying out a matter of business'. Photo / George Heard

Gooch also prepared a statement which was provided to media.

“My family and I are deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of my beloved wife, Yanfei Bao.

“Our 9-year-old daughter and I are desperate for any information that could help police locate her.”

Bao was a “dedicated real estate consultant” who was “engaging with the local community through door-knocking when she went missing and we have not heard from her since”.

“We are incredibly worried and ask for any assistance from anyone that knows something.

“We pray for Yanfei’s safe return and would like to thank everyone for their vigilance and support at this time.”

Bao’s profile on the Harcourts site said she has “extensive experience” in sales, and was previously a top-selling salesperson for 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.”

Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves discusses the disappearance of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Photo / George Heard

Family were 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,” the Harcourts site states.

Yanfei Bao was last seen in the Wigram area about midday on Wednesday, July 19, wearing the outfit pictured and reading glasses. Photo / Canterbury Police

- Anyone who has seen Yanfei Bao, or has any information about where she could be, is urged to call 111 immediately and quote reference file number 230720/5911.

Sam Sherwood is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers crime. He is a senior journalist who joined the Herald in 2022, and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.