Despite a tireless effort from search and rescue parties yesterday, a man reported missing on Mount Holdsworth has still not been found.
Michael MacGregor was last seen at Mount Holdsworth’s Rocky Lookout at 12.20pm on Monday.
A spokesperson for the police said the search yesterday focused on the wider Rocky Lookout and Tōtara Flats areas.
The spokesperson confirmed that the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with thermal imaging was deployed, along with a LandSAR dog and a police dog.
“Several LandSAR volunteer teams are currently searching, and the operation is being supported by amateur radio emergency communications volunteers,” the spokesperson said.
“Police search and rescue teams have spent the night in Tōtara Flats Hut and are being supported by a police search and rescue squad on a training exercise overnight at Tutuwai hut.”
An appeal to the public for information on Tuesday received a significant response.
This included a person who was identified in the background of a video posted by MacGregor on social media getting in touch with police and providing information that assisted with search planning.
Wairarapa area commander Inspector Scott Miller said yesterday that a thorough search of all nearby tracks had been completed and search parties were now looking off-track and around the rivers.
“We’ve got a search area that is very wide, further out than where we originally believed he was, so the immediate area’s been well searched, and we’re further out now,” Miller said.
“The chopper and the ground crew will be in until just before dusk, and then will start again in the morning.”
Miller said MacGregor had parked his car and appeared to go on a normal walk on the track.
“He hasn’t stuck to his route,” MacGregor said.
“The circumstances of why he’s done that, we don’t know.”
Police are still appealing for anyone who may have seen MacGregor or who has information to get in touch, quoting event number P055522968.
