Expatica news

German sisters of missing father arrive in New Zealand

Wellington — Two German sisters of a man who disappeared nearly a month ago leaving his two young sons waiting at their school gate for him to collect them, arrived in New Zealand Friday to join a search for him that police have already abandoned.

Siegfried Newman, 49, who friends said had been distressed since his wife Vicki-Lee died from cancer in November, was last seen on February 25 when he took his boys, Thomas, 9, and Oliver, 7, to their country school in Katikati, 35 kilometers from Tauranga.

More than 30 police and volunteers failed to find him in an extensive three-day ground and air search, and police ruled out foul play.

An officer told the local Bay of Plenty Times, "There’s nothing to suggest that this is anything other than him wandering off to have a think about things or wandering off to take his own life. Both of those are options."

Newman’s sisters did not accept that he was dead when they appeared with the boys, who have been looked after by friends, on the TV3 network’s prime time news bulletin on Friday after arriving from Germany.

"We have to find him for the children," said Brigitte Fulling. "We don’t believe that our brother has left his children alone," said Sabine Vorgerd. "He loved his children so much and we don’t know what’s happened."

They said they planned to spend two weeks in New Zealand and appealed for anyone with information about their brother to come forward.

Police said Newman left his wallet, his cell phone and his car behind when he disappeared and they had no leads on his disappearance though they were still interviewing local residents.

DPA with Expatica