Police have pleaded for help in finding Waihi man Grant Ridley. Photo/Supplied
Ann Ridley wishes she knew what happened to her son who vanished five days ago.
The Thames woman was holding on to hope that Grant Ridley, 46, would be found after his disappearance on Sunday.
Since Tuesday, police and search and rescue teams have been combing through rugged terrain in and around Waihi.
Today, they scaled back the search.
"I do not know either what is going on," Ms Ridley said.
"The police are doing as much as they can."
Police have issued pleas for help in finding Mr Ridley, as it was out of character for the Waihi man to disappear. Mr Ridley had also left his car parked outside his house.
It is understood Mr Ridley had been living and working on a large farm in the valley off Landlyst Rd about halfway between inland Waihi and Whiritoa before he went missing.
Six search and rescue teams yesterday searched farmland around Orokawa Scenic Reserve but had not yet found anything to assist in finding Mr Ridley.
Mr Ridley is described as 1.70m tall and has brown hair styled into a mullet. Local residents have described Mr Ridley as a "nice guy" who kept to himself.
A local butcher known to the community as Porky said the community had been talking about the disappearance and hoped the family were coping.
"I do hope they find him. I feel for his family," he said.
Officer in charge of the search police constable Brian Connors said police were now assessing what next steps to take. Police were continuing to make other enquiries to locate him, Mr Connors said.
"Mr Ridley's family are being kept up to date as to where we are at with the search, and we are continuing to support them during this time."
The co-op has posted a $14.3 million net loss after tax for the year ended June 2024.