UPDATE 6.45pm:
Police and volunteers are searching for a 70 year old man who called for help from a track in the Mangamuka Gorge after walking for seven hours and running out of water.
An eight-member police Search and Rescue team from Whangarei and 11 volunteers from the Far North began searching a track from Takahue Saddle Rd to the Mangamukas, about 36km south east of Kaitaia, at 4.40pm today after the man rang for help about two hours earlier.
Sergeant Neil Pennington said the Whangaparaoa man travelled to the Far
North by bus for the purpose of walking the track but became disoriented and ran out of water after walking for seven hours.
He said police were not concerned about his safety as the man pitched his tent after calling for help and has sleeping gear.
Mr Pennington said the team would search the whole night if necessary.
Police are working from the summit of the Mangamuka Gorge and Mr Pennington said the search team was likely to find him tonight.