Search for man in rugged terrain

Police are growing increasingly concerned about a 47-year-old man believed missing in rugged terrain north of Wanganui.

Brett Hall lives in Palmerston North but owns a lifestyle block off the River Road, Wanganui, north of Parakino, where is he is having a house built. He also hunts on occasion in the area.

Mr Hall was reported missing to Police on Tuesday night (31 May) and enquiries suggest that he was last seen on the lifestyle block by a builder around 10am on Sunday (29 May).

A search and rescue operation was launched on Wednesday morning and currently involves five teams of police and volunteers from Wanganui and Palmerston North Land SAR, a police dog and Hill Country Helicopters. There are approximately 20 personnel involved.

A caravan on the lifestyle block has been found insecure, Mr Hall's vehicle is also there and his quad bike has been found on a track just a few hundred metres from the caravan.

Senior Sergeant Darcy Forrester, who is co-ordinating the search said: "The fact that his vehicle is there and the property isn't secure leads us to believe he is in the area. If that isn't the case, and a friend or associate has collected him and he is safe and well somewhere we need to know. He had not indicated to anyone he was going hunting and there has been no communication with his family which is out of character."

The area of land is approximately 16 square kilometres.

"It is an extremely difficult search as the terrain is unforgiving with steep bluffs and thick bush and we have no indication of where he may have gone after he was last seen on Sunday morning," said Senior Sergeant Forrester.

Mr Hall is described as European, approximately 182cm tall and medium build. It is not known what he was wearing when he went missing. He has no known medical conditions.

Searching will resume again tomorrow morning.

Anyone with information relevant to this search and rescue is asked to contact Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600.