Concerns for missing Takapuna man, bridge jumper

Two missing persons cases are baffling police in the upper North Island as the year comes to an end.

A man missing from Auckland's North Shore since Wednesday left his wallet on the beach and has not tried to claim it back.

Leon Sanders, 35, was last spotted speaking to an associate at the Takapuna Bar on the corner of Hurstmere Rd and Anzac St in Takapuna about 10am on Wednesday.

North Shore Police are concerned for Mr Sanders' safety and would like anyone who knows where he is to contact them, said shift commander Sergeant Steve Pivac.

"We've had no positive information from the public yet. We're following up some leads but he's still missing.

"He's got a partner and some friends and workmates but no next of kin. He was last seen at 10am yesterday and we expect to find him locally," Mr Pivac said.

Police are concerned because some of Mr Sanders' gear was left at Takapuna beach, including his wallet containing money and bank cards.

"It's a bit unusual that he hasn't come forward to reclaim that," Mr Pivac said.

"He's not due in at work this week and he's not expected anywhere, and that's the difficulty, as we've got no point of reference.

"There's been no activity on his phone either. We don't know if he's got his phone with him, but we do know that he hasn't used it.

"Unfortunately, we're just as much in the dark about this as anyone else, so we're just hoping for the best," Mr Pivac added.

Mr Sanders, a South African-born man of European ethnicity, is 190cm tall, of medium build, with short brown or grey hair, blue eyes and a tattoo of Maori design on the inside of his right forearm.

He was wearing a black t-shirt with a silver billabong logo on the chest and black three-quarter length board shorts.

Anyone with information should contact North Shore police.

And searchers scoured Waikato River banks today while police divers searched below the surface for a man missing since leaping from a bridge in Hamilton yesterday afternoon.

Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Singer said, despite the best efforts of those involved, the searches had so far been unsuccessful.

"Of even more concern is that so far no-one has come forward who recognises the description of the man or who believes he may be from their family."

Mr Singer said the man was described as Maori, aged in his early twenties, who had a lame left leg and walked with a pronounced limp.

"Witnesses said he was wearing a dark grey hooded sweatshirt, similarly coloured jeans and dark blue boxer shorts at the time of the incident and we'd really like to hear from anyone who may recognise this man or know who his family is?"

The man jumped from the Claudelands Bridge into the river about 2.20pm.

He landed a short distance from a surprised jetskier who began searching for him.

"Other witnesses raised the alarm and the man was seen surfacing about 50m away for about 15 seconds and was heard calling for help before going under again," Mr Singer said.

Anyone with information on the identity of the man should contact the Hamilton Central Police Station.

- NZPA