Police hand out flyers in search for Nigel Peterson

Police have literally stopped traffic in their search for missing autistic man Nigel Peterson.

Peterson was last seen in CCTV footage at the Hemo Gorge roundabout about 4pm on Friday, November 17.

He ran away from his 24-hour caregiver about 3pm that same day and ran towards Old Taupo Rd.

Helicopters, drones and people power have been used in an extensive search for the 33-year-old, but so far only a handful of credible sightings have been reported to police.

Constable Colin Fraser, who leads the Rotorua Search and Rescue Squad, said police stopped all traffic at the Hemo Gorge roundabout between 3.45pm and about 4.30pm today to hand out flyers.

Fraser said it was often the same traffic using the intersection every day, so hopefully someone may have been on the road the day Peterson went missing and may have seen something.

Sergeant Sonia Sherborne shows the flyer to a car. Photo/Ben Fraser

"If anyone that normally travels through that area has seen him, hopefully this will make them report it."

Fraser said they will continue to search the area south of Rotorua tomorrow.

Search and Rescue workers and volunteers have already searched all of the bush surrounding Rotorua's southern gate and the area around Highlands Loop Rd.

Fraser said searchers would use the weekend to cover off the area in the middle of that.

Nigel Peterson's description
• 33 years old
• Slim, medium height
• Wearing a green T-shirt, light brown pants, brown sneakers and possibly a denim jacket
• Often wrings his hands and could be talking to himself
• Walks with an unusual gait and leans to the side as he moves

Any information can be given to Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on (0800 555 111)