A large scale search and rescue operation continues near Nelson for a tramper who police believe has been missing since Thursday.
English tourist James Esbester entered the Wangapeka track on Wednesday last week and wrote his intention in the log book of tramping to Stone Hut.
From Stone Hut Mr Esbester again left an intention sheet showing he was planning on climbing to the summit of Mt Luna on Thursday morning and returning to Stone Hut.
On Saturday a tramping party arrived at Stone Hut where they found Mr Esbester's note and his equipment. That group tramped out and alerted police to his disappearance at 10pm.
Sergeant Mike Fitzsimons of Nelson Police said a rescue helicopter with night vision equipment was immediately sent into the area. On Sunday morning 15 search and rescue personnel went into the area to begin a ground search.
Sergeant Fitzsimons said searchers had found indications that Mr Esbester may have climbed to the summit of Mt Luna and then deviated from his planned descent by taking the ridge to Biggs Tops.
"That's rather gnarly country," Sergeant Fitzsimons said.
Weather in the Wangapeka area has been good since Thursday and a large team of search and rescue volunteers from Nelson, Golden Bay, Murchison, Tapawera and the West Coast are working with police. A dog team from Reefton and two dog teams from Christchurch will also join the search.
The Fire Service command truck is at the base of the Wangapeka Track and a Defence Force Iroquois arrived to support the search last night
Sergeant Fitzsimons said Mr Esbester's father was due to arrive in Nelson from Portsmouth tonight where he will be briefed by police on the search to date.