Family issue plea for public help to find their son, dead or alive

Saturday, 30 March 2019

Guoquan (Laurence) Wu has been missing since March 10. His family are urging the public for any information on his disappearance.

On the walk up to the house where Laurence Wu's parents are staying, a sombre sight unfolds: two missing person posters and a sign left as a message for their son.

'Mum and Dad have arrived, please come home soon.'

The family landed in New Zealand from China five days after Laurence was first reported missing - they have been searching for him everyday since.

Laurence is described by his family as 'a happy one'

Guoquan Wu, 22, also known as Laurence, was last seen about 1.40pm on March 10 at St Lukes Liquor Centre in Auckland.

* Parents of missing student travel from China to Auckland**

The last anyone had heard of him was later that day when Wu called his ex-girlfriend and told her he was going to Piha, on the West Auckland coast, according to friend Sandy Li.

Father Zhen Zhou Wu, mother Gui Ting Huang and brother Lucas Wu have not given up the search yet, despite the time that has passed.

Guoquan (Laurence) Wu was last seen on his way to Piha. Left: Lucas Wu (brother), Gui Ting Huang (mother) , Zhen Zhou Wu (father) and cousin Jay Wu.

'We are feeling a little desperate,' Lucas Wu admitted. 'In the first 10 days we went out everywhere to search for him… right now, we feel desperate and helpless.'

Laurence Wu and his siblings were sent to New Zealand by their father to study in 2012. They all lived together while he attended Mount Albert Grammar.

He stayed in New Zealand to study computer science at Auckland University, while his brother went back home to live with his parents just south of Guangzhou, China.

'My brother is a happy one, funny - a little bit. He loved New Zealand very much.'

Laurence Wu sent his last message to the family on March 8, a message which was just a 'normal chat'.

Lucas Wu said his brother could be emotionally unstable sometimes, but wasn't the type to harm himself.

The home the family was using as a temporary place to stay was quiet - snack platters lay uneaten on the table outside next to candles which had been burnt low.

Mother Gui Ting Huang, translated by her son, said Laurence Wu spent much of his time playing online games or riding his bike.

'He likes to bike to the park, we have two bikes and he would ride to the park or go to the gym.'

A missing person sign of Guoquan (Laurence) Wu outside the home his family is staying in - Wu has been missing since March 10.

She had been quiet since arriving, according to Lucas Wu, worried about her son.

'Right now we are hoping to find him alive, we don't think he is the kind of person to commit suicide, maybe he is hiding somewhere with his friend or has gotten out of Auckland,' she said.

Laurence Wu's car, a grey Hyundai Sante Fe, was found on Marine Parade, Piha, in the early hours of March 12.

His brother said Laurence Wu's bank cards and license are yet to be found.

Father Zhen Zhou Wu wanted to issue a plea to the public, to help them find their son.

'Right now we are doing our absolute best to find Laurence but we can't do this alone because we don't have the manpower.

'If he is alive we obviously want him found soon, if he is dead - we want to find his body.'

The family planned to hire a fishing charter boat to look for Laurence Wu this week.

They had already hired a helicopter to search but nothing was found.

Police had been working with the family to help locate him, but Lucas Wu said a lot of resources and officers were deployed to Christchurch not long after his brother went missing.

'The police are doing the best they can. They've deployed a lot of man power to Christchurch so there are only two policeman working on this case right now.

'I'm very thankful but I don't think two policeman are enough.'

A police spokeswoman said police were still conducting 'a number of lines of inquiry' into Laurence Wu's disappearance.

Police also did another search of Piha and surrounding areas last week, she said.

'Police have spoken to his family and friends to establish his movements leading up to his disappearance, and anyone who has been in touch with him who has not made contact with police is asked to contact us.'

Anyone with information can contact Sergeant Tania Kingi from Avondale Police on 09 302 6400. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.