Dive team called in for search for missing 11-year-old

Mike Zhao-Beckenridge. Photo / supplied

Specialist search teams including the Police Dive Squad are searching an area in Curio Bay for any sign of a missing 11-year-old boy and his step-father.

Mike Zhao-Beckenridge has been missing and believed to be willingly with his estranged step-father John Beckenridge for 10 days.

Police are currently working around a location of interest in the Curio Bay area where a number of items were found.

The police dive team were called in to assist, but wouldn't be entering the water until later this afternoon due to a dangerous tide.

Inspector Kevin Lloyd said police were keeping an open mind.

"While we do have an area of interest we are looking into, there is still no confirmation that Mike or John are still there.

"We are continuing to work with the current situation that Mike and John could be anywhere in the lower South Island region and we ask members of the public who may have seen Mike or John to contact us immediately.

"We also would like to hear from anyone who has information that might help us to locate them."

John Beckenridge is also known as John Robert Lundh, Knut Goran Roland Lundh, or John Bradford.

His contact with Mike is in breach of a parenting order.

Police believe the pair are travelling in a dark blue Volkswagen Touareg stationwagon, registration number DUY263.

Mike is of solid build and of Asian descent. John Beckenridge is 1.75m in height, of medium build and of Swedish descent.

If anyone sees the pair they should contact police on 111 immediately.

Anyone with information that might assist in locating the pair should contact the Southern District Command Centre on 03 471-5002.

Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.