Search for British tramper scaled down

The search for missing British tourist Robert Atkin was scaled down last night.

Police would not comment on whether that meant he was probably dead or speculate on what had happened to him in dense bush on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Mr Atkin, an experienced tramper, went missing seven days ago and there has been no sign of him despite a massive search and rescue operation over a 10sq km area north of the Kauaeranga Valley, east of Thames.

He went for a six-hour hike on Wednesday, taking little food and was only lightly clad.

"Unfortunately at this stage the result is not what we wanted but we gave it our best shot," said Search Operations Manager Dene Duthie.

He said unless new information came to light the search management team was stumped as to where to look next.

Around 100 volunteer and police searchers were ferried by Iroquois helicopter into the search area. Sergeant Steve Hayman of the Hamilton police said many had spent up to three nights in the bush. Temperatures had dropped in the area in the past two nights. On Monday it was around 9C and last night about 10C but wild and squally weather had meant the wind chill factor had made it much colder.

Six dogs specially trained in bush and avalanche rescue had joined the search.

The whereabouts of Mr Atkin's girlfriend was unknown yesterday. Police would not say where she was or reveal her name. Mr Atkin's parents are also understood to be about to arrive from the UK.