Police are hoping a search and rescue exercise this weekend will bring closure for the family of missing Rangiora woman Emma Beattie.

The 20-year-old was last seen when she left her Fernside home on foot on December 1 last year.

SAR coordinator Sergeant Phil Simmons says many of those involved in this exercise were part of the initial search for Emma Beattie.

"We spent over two and a half thousand hours combined with searches in the field looking for Emma without success. A lot of them feel it's unfinished business so they are really keen to try and have a good look and incorporate that into our training."

Simmons says they will be searching around the Ashley River area.

"Some areas we touched on previously but it's including some new areas as well. Certainly it would be nice to have a good result and actually find her and bring her back to the family."

Helicopters, search dogs and about a hundred people will be involved in the search.

Simmons says the family has asked for privacy.