The police dive squad is expected to assist in the search for two missing men who fled from police after abandoning a stolen vehicle near Taupo yesterday.
Police said the two men left the stolen vehicle near Atiamuri, north of Taupo, following a short pursuit.
"The vehicle had earlier failed to stop for police and there was a short pursuit but the officers lost sight of the [vehicle] as it turned into a forestry track. Police came across the abandoned vehicle a short time later. Approximately 20 minutes later a police dog tracked from the abandoned vehicle directly to the river," police said.
An large-scale search involving teams on land, the coastguard and a helicopter failed to turn up anything yesterday.
Police said they had become "increasingly concerned" for the safety of the two men, and had dispatched the national dive squad from Wellington last night to assist.
The men are believed to be in their 20s and from the Taupo/Tokoroa area. Police have identified one of the men.