KEY POINTS:
Fears are growing for the wellbeing of a New Zealander who has been missing in Australia's Northern Territory for more than a month.
Whakatane man Jamie Stephen Herdman, 26, has not been seen since November 30 when his Nissan van was found at the Highway Inn in the small town of Daly Waters.
Police were called by staff who were concerned the van, which contained cash and personal belongings, had been abandoned.
Mr Herdman was reportedly last seen trying to hitchhike along the Stuart Highway, about 7km from the Inn, but it is not clear if he got a ride.
He has not touched his accounts or contacted his family since then.
Don Herdman, Jamie's grandfather, told the Herald it wasn't unusual for him to be out of touch for a while.
However Mr Herdman's concern for the wellbeing of Jamie increased on learning that his grandson had left cash and belongings in the van.
"Oh my gosh, that is concerning. I didn't know that. We are a bit concerned now that this is starting to develop into something," he said.
"We thought [his disappearance] was short term and he would contact his brother or his friends in Perth."
Jamie's brother Carl Herdman said he last spoke to his brother about 5 1/2 weeks ago and Jamie sounded fine then.
But he was worried that Jamie had not made contact over Christmas or New Year, something he would normally do.
Carl said Jamie, who is about 1.8m tall with shoulder-length dreadlocks, had been in Australia for about 18 months and was working for a furniture shifting company in Broome.
Jamie grew up in Whakatane, where his grandparents live. His father is in London and he has a sister who has just returned to New Zealand from England.
Northern Territory police spokeswoman Hayley Dwyer said police would continue searching for Mr Herdman using specialist teams.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Australian police.
