Police still searching for missing Christchurch man

Kurt Green has been missing since early March.

There is still no sign of a Christchurch man who was last seen near the Blaketown tiphead on March 9.

Kurt Green, 30, travelled to Greymouth with friends on Saturday, March 8 - the day of the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival - staying with their friends in Blaketown. He was last seen the next day heading toward the tiphead and beach.

Those involved in a beach clean-up last week found a wallet and shoes and socks near the entrance to the beach at the end of Rigg Street. They were handed to the police and later confirmed as belonging to Mr Green.

A police search and rescue team and volunteers today began an intense search of the area.

Search and rescue co-ordinator senior constable Mike Tinnelly said the area of beach from Westroads to the tiphead would be searched.

"We will be searching the beach area, along the West Coast Wilderness cycle trail, and scrub surrounding the area," Mr Tinnelly said.

He suggested that Mr Green may have gone for a swim and got into difficulty.

Police area commander Inspector John Canning said all scenarios were being investigated.

"Mr Green came to Greymouth with friends, and for whatever reason those friends headed back to Christchurch on Sunday without him," Mr Canning said.

Beaches north of the Grey River would also be searched, he said.

"If anyone has information about Mr Green and his whereabouts they should contact police immediately we need to know that he is safe."

Acting detective senior sergeant Sarah Ellington, of Christchurch police, said this morning Mr Green's disappearance was being treated as that of a missing person.

"Today our focus is the search along the beach, in an attempt to find something that will help us locate him," she said.