Tauranga volunteers have joined the desperate search to find and save two men missing in dense bush after items of interest were found last night.
Police and Land Search and Rescue volunteers this morning resumed their search for the two men, aged in their 20s, who abandoned a stolen car near the Desert Road before legging it into bushland in the Tongariro National Park on Saturday, police said.
Remnants of a campfire were found last night near to where the 111 call was made on Sunday morning. The fire was most likely lit on Saturday, a police statement said.
Clothing and a shoe were found approximately 150m north of where the fire was.
Today 40 Search and Rescue volunteers have travelled from areas as far as Tauranga and Whanganui. They will continue the intensive search in 10 teams of four and were entering the area now.