Search resumes for missing police dog as weather closes in

The 3-year-old sable-coloured German Shepherd, called Thames, went missing yesterday afternoon in the Mt Holdsworth area during a team training exercise. Photo / NZ Police

Search teams are resuming the hunt for a police dog missing for two nights as bad weather is expected to close in.

Police said a dozen people, including dog handlers and trained search volunteers, were checking "gnarly bush terrain" today for the missing dog called Thames.

The dog went missing on Sunday in the Totara Creek/Red Creek area in Wairarapa during a day-long search and rescue exercise.

Wellington police dog section head Senior Sergeant Mark Davidson said the search team was probing deeper gullies in the Mt Holdsworth area.

"Thames is a fit and resourceful dog but we're all naturally concerned that there's been no sign of him," Mr Davidson said in a statement today.

"Our dogs and officers work as a team so everyone wants to find him including his handler who is part of today's search."

Mr Davidson said recent good weather was forecast to change in the area tonight.

Thames is a 3-year-old German shepherd.

Mr Davidson earlier said it was believed Thames may have scented another group before becoming separated from his handler in dense bush.

Every police dog costs between $40,000 to $60,000 to train, Mr Davidson told the Wairarapa Times-Age.