Search for missing West Coast man in Waikato steps up

Waikato Police say the area where a West Coast man missing for three days could have possibly gone to are so vast it is presenting huge challenges for the staff tasked with finding him.

Sergeant Phil Bell of the Waikato Search and Rescue Squad said 63-year-old Leslie Graham WRIGHT had been staying in Te Kuiti with a friend attending a conference and had left a camping ground on Monday morning planning to go on a day trip.

"Just where he intended going to remains a mystery with initial indications including a rail trail near Taumarunui, bush walks on Pirongia and somewhere near the coast past Waitomo all mentioned as places of interest.

"Follow up enquiries however reveal Mr WRIGHT has an interest in old gold mining sites and our search has now been expanded to include sites around Te Aroha, Waihi and Waikino. Basically you're talking about an area stretching from the west coast of the King Country and Waikato over to the east coast of the Bay of Plenty."

Mr Bell said because of this it wasn't a case where Police could set up an operational base and deploy search and rescue volunteers from there because where did searchers start.

"Police share Mr WRIGHT'S family's concerns about his wellbeing. We understand he is a fit person with no known health issues.

"This leads us to suspect he may have come to grief while driving which is why we are again asking land owners with properties adjoining roadsides to check their fence lines and report anything amiss."

Mr Bell said while this was going on Waikato Police have contacted their colleagues in Taumarunui and Taupo and staff across the areas of interest have been checking public car parks for sightings of Mr WRIGHT'S vehicle, a silver 2004 Nissan Pulsar hatchback, registration CHJ965.

"The public are really key to helping us locate Mr WRIGHT by reporting any sightings of him or his vehicle.

"Mr WRIGHT'S family have travelled up to Te Kuiti to assist with the search and it is for them as much as for Police that the public should not discount any information that they may have."

Anyone who may have seen Mr WRIGHT or his car is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Steve Hudson of the Te Kuiti CIB on 07 858 6200.


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