KEY POINTS:
Searchers are battling gusting winds as they push their way through rugged bush, gullies and streams looking for missing Polish tramper Jacek Grzybowski.
The 28-year-old computer software engineer went missing a week ago on a planned day trip into the Rimutaka Forest Park, possibly heading for Mt Matthews, one of the park's highest points.
Police said it was an ambitious return walk in a day at this time of year and it was possible Mr Grzybowski had been caught out by the dark, or slipped and fallen off one of the many tracks in the area.
Seven police and NZ Land SAR teams from Wellington, Levin, Palmerston North, and the Wairarapa stayed in the bush overnight but so far there has been no sign of the missing man, police said.
Fresh teams would join the search today and some would be flown into hard to reach areas by an air force Iroquois helicopter.
Police said the increasing wind gusts were making it more difficult for searchers on the exposed ridges.
The search would focus on the high probability areas around the Whakanui and McKerrow tracks, the creeks, streams and gullies running off those and Mt Matthews.
Mr Grzybowski's family was expected to arrive from Poland tomorrow.
- NZPA
