# Update: Police pause search for Erika Rodrigues Coelho

Date: 6 Oct 2026
Released by: New Zealand Police

## MediaRelease.co Summary

The search for 47-year-old Erika Rodrigues Coelho, reported missing on 20 September, has been paused by Police after extensive searching. Sergeant Terry Wood thanked Land Search and Rescue volunteers, Coastguard Queenstown and Clyde, ski lodge managers, dog teams and members of the public. A formal review will decide the direction of the search, and anyone with information is asked to contact Police on 105 quoting 260921/8173.

## Original release

Police have paused the search for missing 47-year-old Erika Rodrigues Coelho. This difficult decision follows extensive searches of the area since Erika was reported missing on 20 September. Sergeant Terry Wood says Police would like to thank every person who has dedicated countless hours of their time to the Search and Rescue operation. "From the Land Search and Rescue volunteers, volunteers from Coastguard Queenstown and Clyde, managers of the ski lodges supplying accommodation to the searchers, the dog teams, members of the public, and everyone else involved from Fiordland to Omarama." A formal review will be conducted in due course and a decision will be made regarding the direction of the search. Police continue to encourage anyone who may have information on Erika's whereabouts to contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105. Please use reference number 260921/8173. Should anyone want to provide information anonymously, you can do so through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

## Key details

- Issued by: New Zealand Police
- Published: 6 Oct 2026
- Publisher country: New Zealand
- Original source: https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-police-pause-search-erika-rodrigues-coelho
- MediaRelease.co URL: https://mediarelease.co/nz/mr01291-update-police-pause-search-for-erika-rodrigues-coelho-06102026.html

Original source: https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-police-pause-search-erika-rodrigues-coelho
MediaRelease.co canonical URL: https://mediarelease.co/nz/mr01291-update-police-pause-search-for-erika-rodrigues-coelho-06102026.html