'Do the right thing': Police urge partner of missing Christchurch woman Rowena Walker to speak

Police are renewing an urgent appeal for information on the whereabouts of missing Canterbury woman Rowena Walker.

It has been more than 10 months since Walker went missing in the Christchurch suburb of Burwood.

She was last seen on August 14, 2025 when CCTV captured her with an associate on Bassett Street.

Her mother reported her missing two months later.

It has been more than 10 months since Rowena Walker, who would be 40 on Wednesday, went missing.

Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Police

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said that no digital footprint and no verified sightings of Walker have been made in that time.

"Today is Rowena's 40th birthday," she said.

Carolan added what should be a time of celebration for her whānau was instead one of sadness and desperation.

The last confirmed sighting of Rowena Walker was on 14 August 2025, when she was captured on CCTV in Christchurch on Bassett Street with an associate.

Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Police

Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Police

While a search of part of the Christchurch red zone in April was unsuccessful, an investigation team was planning a further search in the coming weeks.

"The investigation team is working our way through a vast amount of digital information, and we continue to speak with witnesses and identify new enquiries. There is still a lot of work to do, and the investigation team is dedicated and motivated to find Rowena."

A map of the part of the Christchurch red zone that was searched in April.

Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Police

Police believe that Walker was the victim of foul play on or around 15 August 2025 and is no longer alive.

Carolan said the investigation had indicated that someone in the community knew what happened to her.

In a stand-up on Wednesday afternoon, Carolan said there was no information to suggest that there was any risk to Walker's safety before she went missing.

Police maintained regular contact, particularly with Walker's mother, Carolan said.

"She's beside herself and just needs answers.

"No parent should have to go through life not knowing what's happened to their child."

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan speaking on the disappearance of Rowena Walker.

Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon

'Strongly urge him to reconsider': Walker's partner unwilling to assist

Carolan said Walker had family, including young children, who deserved to know what happened to her.

Walker's partner at the time was the last person known to have seen her alive, but had, so far, declined to talk to the police.

Carolan said it was his right to maintain his silence, but his assistance was crucial to the investigation.

It is disappointing and frustrating that he is unwilling to assist, Carolan added.

"I would strongly urge him to reconsider and do the right thing by Rowena and her family," she said.

Carolan said the police had "digital information" to suggest that she was at home in the Burwood area on the evening of 15 August when Walker had a FaceTime call with an acquaintance, which her partner was part of.

"Her partner is the last person we can verify as having seen her alive. I can't rule out the possibility that somebody else has done since then, but we have no information to suggest that," she said.

Carolan said the police had approached her partner for an interview "several times" but he had declined, "as is his right".

She added that he had not said why, "and he's not obliged to, unfortunately".

No one else had declined to talk to the police, Carolan said.

Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon

Further search

Police would search "another area" of the red zone in the coming weeks, Carolan said.

"That's primarily because it's very close to where she lived before she went missing.

"Having said that, we can't rule out the possibility that she is not in that area."

The reason for searching the red zone was "largely based around the fact that it's a large open space that is in close proximity to where she was living," Carolan added.

While Carolan said it was important that the police were exhaustive in completing the search, she said they were unlikely to search the entire red zone.

"We're trying to focus on areas that have best bang for buck, if you like, for the resources that we have to invest."

Carolan said the police were keeping "a very open mind", but were not looking for anything specific, "although there may be belongings of Rowena's that have been abandoned somewhere."

She added that the police had searched residential properties, of which she was not in a position to go into the details of.

Urgent appeal for information

Police are appealing to the public to report any information they think may be relevant, no matter how big or small, Carolan said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking "update report", or by calling 105.

The reference number is 251022/9026.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Carolan said no one had been taken into custody or arrested in relation to the investigation so far.

She added that the number of people interviewed was "in the dozens".

"We have spoken to many witnesses and continue to do so."

Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon

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