Search for missing man comes up empty-handed

Tauranga Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR) members have failed to unearth any new clues in five-year-old mystery disappearance of Te Paewhenua (Bobby) Roberts.
However, the cold case search for Mr Roberts, who disappeared in the Kaimai Ranges, will continue and YSAR members will visit the area again early next year.
Police constable and Tauranga YSAR volunteer co-ordinator Steve Campbell, said 15 students covered about 12,000sq/m and used  search methods they had gained through national search and rescue training.
The team, working shoulder to shoulder, searched up the creek using a search pattern based on Lost Person Behaviour Theory; searching from Mr Roberts' last known position.
Local search and rescue members Keith Theobald and Bryan Norton gave advice on where best to search.
Nothing has been seen or heard of Mr Roberts, 53, from Te Puke, since November 30, 2004.
His van smashed through the brick and steel lookout barrier, plunging more than 100m down the bush-clad cliff. He was thrown from the van, but a  four-day search did not find him.
In July 2005, his clothes were found stacked next to a log - leading to speculation he discarded them because he was suffering from hypothermia.
Mr Campbell said a large amount of household rubbish was discovered in the creek bed and made determining relevance of clues difficult.
On arriving at Mr Roberts' last known position, searches found the area had recently been affected by a large windfall.
Mr Campbell said the  search saw students upturning leaf material on the forest floor as they moved forward in line, on a compass bearing.
The search area covered was  recorded so when YSAR members return next year, they can add it to their search area.
Mr Campbell said he was hopeful the mystery would one day be solved. "It would be nice to get some closure for the family."