'Please bring him home, we're worried sick'

Stephen Gourlay was last with his family on December 18. Photo / Otago Daily Times

The daughter of missing Dunedin man Stephen Gourlay has released a heart-felt statement on behalf of their family pleading for the public's help.

Youngest daughter Emma Shaw asked for the public to look out for Mr Gourlay, who was last seen in the Ravensbourne area on December 19.

A possible sighting of Mr Gourlay on Moray Pl in the central city this morning was determined not to be him.

''We ask that members of the public ... keep an eye out around their neighbourhoods and homes, in areas of bush and similar,'' Ms Shaw said.

''We ask ... that they just keeping sharing posts on Facebook and ringing into the police with any information they may have. Please bring him home. We miss him so much and are worried sick.''

Ms Shaw said Mr Gourlay was last with the family on December 18 to celebrate the birth of a grandchild and was at a friend's home the day he went missing.

''It was not until December 23, which is dad's birthday, when we noticed (sic) something could be wrong as he failed to get in contact with us.''

The family reported him missing on Christmas Day.

''This is a very stressful time for us as a family. It is so unlike dad to wander off like this. It really is a needle-in-a-haystack search.''

Ms Shaw said police and Land Search and Rescue had been ''incredible'', and she thanked all who had helped in the search so far.

Mr Gourlay is described as Caucasian, about 173cm tall, of slight build, with short grey hair, grey facial hair and a sleeve tattoo on his forearm. He has a slightly lazy eye.

It was thought Mr Gourlay was on foot as the work van, his car, bicycle and motorcycle were all accounted for.

Anyone with information which could assist police was asked to contact the Southern District Command Centre on (03) 471-5002(03) 471-5002.