Bridge jump sparks river search

Searchers are scouring the Waikato River near Rangiriri after a man was seen jumping from a bridge this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the bridge on Glen Murray Rd, in the north Waikato town of Rangiriri, shortly after 3pm, Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson said.

"A member of the public reported seeing a man park his car with the engine running in the middle of the one-lane bridge where he then exited the vehicle, removed his shorts and then jumped in the river."

A land, water and air search is underway involving the Huntly Volunteer Fire Brigade, Search and Rescue, police and the Auckland-based police Eagle helicopter.

The missing man is believed to be a 49-year-old Aucklander.

He was not seen resurfacing and the river is running deep and fast, Mr Simpson said.

Search coordinators were deciding whether conditisons were too dangerous for the Wellington-based police specialist dive squad.

Landowners with properties bordering the river downstream from Rangiriri should contact police if anything suspicious washes up in the coming days.