Divers are now being flown into dense North Island bush by a helicopter to search for a pair of men missing since Saturday.
The hunt for Vincent Taurima and a friend has now taken a grim turn with the National Dive Squad searching streams and creeks in the Kaimanawa Ranges.
The pair, both in their 20s, fled police in a stolen car last Saturday before running into the bush to evade capture.
On Monday they made a distress call to police saying they were lost and cold and needed help.
Searchers including volunteers, army and family members have been scouring dense bush in the Kaimanawa Ranges between Tree Trunk Rd and the Pillars of Hercules without luck.
Police have found a campsite and clothes strewn in the rugged bush.
Today Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen said divers would enter waterways as part of the search for the missing men.
The team had arrived yesterday and made an assessment of where to look for the men.
A helicopter would fly in the divers, who would focus on streams and creeks within the existing search area.
Jeurissen said the divers would be joined by land-based searchers.
Police continued to liaise with the whanau of the men, to keep them updated on the search and ensure they received the support they need, said Jeurissen.