Christchurch pensioner missing for a week ‘might have walked some distance’

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

The family of Elisabeth Nicholls, who has been missing in Christchurch since last week, are making a further appeal for assistance from the public after no breakthroughs in the search for her.

The family of Elisabeth Nicholls, who went missing in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton last week, are making a further appeal for assistance from the public after no breakthroughs in the search for her.

Nicholls, 79, went missing last Wednesday. She was last seen on CCTV footage at 7.54pm at the Chateau on the Park, some 550m from the rest home on Bartlett St that she left about 6pm.

Despite extensive searches, police have had no further confirmed sightings of the pensioner. A possible sighting in Mona Vale was ruled out on Monday.

“Today marks a week since Elisabeth Nicholls was last seen, and police and her family are making an appeal for help,” Detective Sergeant Lucy Aldridge said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“People should check their sheds and properties, anywhere someone might take shelter. She is physically strong and might have walked some distance.”

Elisabeth Nicholls, 79, went missing in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton last week.

Police also asked anyone with CCTV to review any footage they had from 6.40pm on June 4, the night Elisabeth went missing, to 8am on June 5.

Aldridge said police did not suspect foul play, but they would be keeping an open mind. They had done extensive searching in the Riccarton area with no luck.

“It is difficult to say how far she’s gone,” Aldridge said.

Detective Sergeant Lucy Aldridge at a press conference on Wednesday.

Elisabeth often went on walks with her husband, Aldridge said, but never alone. Conditions had also been cold and wet, and police had “grave concerns for her wellbeing”.

Aldridge said the past week had been extremely difficult for Elisabeth’s family. Her husband, Gary, said she was “an adored wife, mother, grandmother, friend and colleague, who has always put other people first”.

Police are searching for 79-year-old Elizabeth, missing since Wednesday evening near Bartlett St in Riccarton. Residents are urged to check their yards as freezing temperatures raise concern for her safety.

“I would like to sincerely thank the people of Christchurch for their help and concern, and for the information they have been providing,” Gary said in a statement on behalf of the family.

“We are also grateful to police, the search and rescue teams, Canterbury University students and the Victoria Neighbourhood Association, who have been dedicating so much time and resource to help us find Lis.

“You have been working in the cold, the rain, and the darkness to bring Lis home to us, and we are incredibly grateful.”

Gary told Stuff last week the search for Elisabeth had “looked at all avenues” and he couldn’t think of anywhere else his wife might be.

At the time she went missing, Elisabeth, who suffers from dementia, was staying at Margaret Stoddart Retirement Village for respite care.

A spokesperson for the Ryman-owned facility said the pensioner had been admitted to the village on Wednesday morning and was free to come and go.

According to police, Elisabeth was wearing a black and gray checkered long sleeve shirt, a maroon long sleeve top, navy blue jeans and black leather shoes when she left the rest home, and she has distinctive long blond/white hair.

Senior Sergeant Todd Webley told Stuff last week there was no suggestion Elisabeth had been the victim of foul play as she left the rest home “of her own free will”.

Members of the public have been urged to contact police if they had any information about Elisabeth’s whereabouts, “no matter how small it may seem”.

Police said people should call 111 if they find her.