Search for missing English tramper near Nelson

Trampers in Kahurangi National Park. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

A large search is under way for a missing 30-year-old English tourist, tramping in Kahurangi National Park west of Nelson.

James Esbester started the Wangapeka track, at the southern end of the park, on Wednesday. On Thursday morning he wrote in a hut log book that he planned to climb to the summit of Mt Luna as a day trip.

However, on Saturday a tramping party raised the alarm after arriving at the hut and finding Mr Esbester's note and his equipment including a sleeping bag and his passport.

The group tramped out and alerted police about 10pm.

A rescue helicopter with night vision equipment was immediately sent into the area, said Sergeant Mike Fitzsimons of Nelson police.

On Sunday morning 15 search and rescue staff went into the area to begin a ground search.

Mr Fitzsimons said today searchers had found clues that indicated Mr Esbester may have climbed to the summit of Mt Luna and then deviated from his planned descent.

"That's rather gnarly country," Mr Fitzsimons said.

Weather in the Wangapeka area had been good since Thursday and a large LandSAR team of personnel from Nelson, Golden Bay, Murchison, Tapawera and the West Coast were working with police, he said.

Three dog teams had also joined the search.

A Defence Force Iroquois arrived to help in the search last night.

Mr Esbester's father will arrive in Nelson from Portsmouth, England, tonight and will be briefed by police.

- NZPA