Land SAR staff on the walk bridge over the Waikato River between Flagstaff and Pukete on Saturday afternoon.

Annie Shin told her family she was going out to get some fresh air on Thursday evening.

She left her cellphone at the Hamilton home she shares with husband Richard and their two children, leaving in her silver car.

But the Waikato Hospital oncology nurse never returned home.

TOM LEE/STUFF Land SAR staff searched the banks of the Waikato River off River Rd.

She was last seen in Pukete around 5pm, police say.

When her husband went searching for her, he headed to the spot the family often go for walks - a five-minute drive from their home amid the leafy suburban streets off River Road in Flagstaff.

There, he found her car parked on the street.

TOM LEE/STUFF Yong Ho (Annie) Shin or Yang has not been seen since Thursday evening. Her neighbours were distributing flyers on Saturday.

He searched the streets and down the steep concrete path that cuts through residences and edges a retirement village to the Waikato River.

Having found no sign of her, he alerted his neighbours. They searched, too, and decided to call the police.

"They sometimes come as a family down here as it's nice and peaceful down by the river," Shin's neighbours, who did not want to be named, said as they handed out flyers around Munro Place on Saturday morning.

TOM LEE/STUFF Land SAR staff were searching the banks of the Waikato River in Flagstaff on Saturday afternoon.

"It's not illogical she would have come here and that's when he discovered the car but not her."

Yong Ho (Annie) Shin or Yang, 44, was reported missing to Hamilton police on Friday, Waikato police Senior Sergeant Phil Ruddell said on Saturday morning.

Her disappearance is out of character and both family and police have concerns for her welfare.

POLICE Yong Ho (Annie) Shin or Yang has not been seen since Thursday evening. If you have seen her, please call Hamilton police on 07 858 6200.

Ruddell confirmed her car was found parked in Flagstaff on Friday evening. Police were searching through the vehicle to find anything that could help with the search.

Originally from Korea, neighbours said Annie and her husband have lived next door to them for the past 16 years.

Annie trained as a nurse in Hamilton and the children were born here.

"They're very established here in the community."

The neighbour said the children were struggling without their mother, but the family had extensive support from the local Korean community.

"Annie is really outgoing person, very fluent in English," she said, "they're really lovely people, neighbours and friends and a caring mum."

The neighbours said it was completely unlike Annie not to return home. She does shift work at the hospital. There has been no contact with family, they said.

They said Annie had her bag with her. It is a small black satchel with small coloured pictures on it.

"This is not usual behaviour at all. She wouldn't not turn up for her kids. The hope is she's going to turn up."

Shin was last seen wearing a black puffer jacket and black jeans. She wears round, black-trim glasses.

On Saturday morning, Waikato police began a land and river search for Shin.

Sergeant Warren Shaw of Waikato Search and Rescue said the focus of Saturday's search was in the areas around the river in the Flagstaff area.

A police boat was out on the river, while 11 Land SAR members and a police dog handler checked the scrub areas and riverbanks around the pathways.

"This is the first day of the search after a preliminary search last night. It's really early stages."

Police checked areas around where Shin's vehicle was found on Friday evening, but found no clues.

"The reason we're searching that area is that is where the car was - it's not saying she is definitely down there. We need to cover it."

Shin had no history of going missing, Shaw said.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen Shin in the Pukete or Flagstaff areas, around Munro Place or either side of the river, in the past two days to please contact Hamilton police immediately on 07 858 6200.

Information can also be left anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.