Search for missing man continues

Police speak to media about the search for Brett Hall. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

The hunt for missing Palmerston North man Brett Hall continued this morning after a huge search team camped out overnight in rugged terrain north of Wanganui.

An air force Iroquois helicopter and up to 80 police, army personnel and volunteers are spending the weekend combing up to 20 kilometres of rough country looking for the 47-year-old who police fear may have been the victim of foul play.

Mr Hall was last seen at his isolated lifestyle block nearly two weeks ago. Police are running a search and rescue operation but have not ruled out homicide.

Mr Hall has previously been jailed for drugs and firearms offences.

This weekend the numbers have been significantly boosted to cover as much ground as possible. Specialist alpine rescue volunteers from Palmerston North, Ruapehu and Taranaki have joined the operation to abseil into areas too difficult to reach on foot.

Police said that the Iroquois would be dropping searchers into areas that could not be searched normally on foot.

Senior Sergeant Darcy Forrester said the majority of the searchers were volunteers who had day jobs and were giving up their entire weekend to help the operation.

"We couldn't do what we do without their significant and invaluable support.

"An operation of this size is not typical but the terrain is not typical and we are also mindful that there is a homicide investigation running in parallel to our search. The more area we cover without finding Mr Hall, the more that will assist the homicide team in determining whether or not there is an innocent explanation for his disappearance."

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby said police were still appealing for people who had been to Mr Hall's property in recent months to come forward, in particular the driver of a white flat deck ute seen leaving the track to the property on the evening of Sunday, May 29.

- NZPA