Missing Person - Wanaka Police

Wanaka Police are seeking any information from the public in relation to a missing male German tramper in the Mt Aspiring National Park.

The Missing person is Julian Stukenborg a 23year old male who is tramping alone on the Cascade Saddle, Dart Valley track. Mr Stukenborg failed to make email contact with his friend in Germany on the 22nd of June as he had agreed. He had prearranged that if his friend had not heard from him, to contact the Department of Conservation in Wanaka on the 23rd of June.

Mr Stukenborg is approximately 6 foot 4inch tall and has an athletic build. He has a large black and green Deutor back pack, a green Katmandu two person tent and is a keen photographer.

Wanaka Police SAR coordinator Sgt Aaron Nicholson said a team of Wanaka Land SAR members deployed on the initial hasty search discovered that Mr Stukenborg had stayed at the Mt Aspiring hut in the Matukituki Valley on the night of the 16 of June and made a hut book entry that he intended tramping over the Cascade Saddle and into the Dart Valley and the onto the Route Burn track to finish in Te Anau.

Initial air searches conducted on the 24th by Wanaka and Queenstown Police and Land SAR members have failed to locate any sign of Mr Stukenborg on the track or in the huts in the Dart Valley along the intended route. Planning and background checks have not offered any further information to the location of Mr Stukenborg. Family and friends of Mr Stukenborg have been contacted and are helping Police with background information.

Wanaka Police SAR coordinator Sgt Nicholson said that a search management team has been working into the night planning the next phase of the operation and Wanaka Land SAR bush and ACR teams will be deployed into the feild tomorrow morning.

Police are hoping that there were members of the public who have come into contact with Mr Stukenborg on his travels and can help piece together his movements. Wanaka Police are asking if any member of the public has had recent contact with Julian Stukenborg to contact them on 03 443727