Search resumes for missing UK tramper

File photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

The search for a missing 30-year-old English tourist in Kahurangi National Park, west of Nelson, has resumed this morning.

Police said James Esbester, 30, from Portsmouth was believed to be in an "extremely rugged" area between Luna Peak and Biggs Tops.

They said teams of experienced cavers would abseil down bluffs in the area today and nine teams of searchers on foot will also grid search an 8km area.

About 50 police, fire service, Defence Force and volunteers are involved in the operation. An Airforce Iroquois and tracker dogs are also being used in today's search.

There was rain in the area overnight, however conditions today are fine.

Mr Esbester started the Wangapeka track, at the southern end of the Kahurangi National 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.

Mr Esbester's father arrived in Nelson last night and has been briefed by police. He will be taken to the forward command base near Tapawera today. Mr Esbester had been on a cycling holiday in New Zealand and is described as very fit.

- NZPA and NZHERALD STAFF