'Nightmare' as son disappears

MISSING: James Vachre has not been seen since Sunday and his family has made a heartfelt appeal for his return. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The Tauranga parents of a young man missing since Sunday say they are living "every parent's worst nightmare".

James Richard Courde Vachre, 22, was last seen at his Devonport Rd flat on the afternoon of November 2.

James was meant to have dinner with parents David and Jude Vachre that night but never arrived.

Mrs Vachre has since launched a heartfelt appeal for her son to make contact and come home.

"He was meant to come to our place for dinner but he didn't come," she said.

"I thought, 'Oh yeah, he just didn't let us know he had something else on'. But, on Sunday night, the girls at his flat ... saw his bedroom window was open and they went in to close it and it was apparent he actually had not been at home at all."

James' flatmates had seen him that afternoon and he had seemed happy, Mrs Vachre said.

James worked as a delivery driver. His scooter and mobile phone were left behind, but his wallet was not there. The family had alerted police, who were treating the matter seriously.

"You know your kids might go away for a bit of a breather but he's just disappeared, literally just gone," Mrs Vachre said.

"It's our worst nightmare. It's every parent's worst nightmare."

She hoped James, wherever he was, would make contact with them or anyone he knew to let people know he was safe.

"He needs to know that he can call anyone, anyone who knows him and they will come and get him."

Mr Vachre is described as a male Maori of slim to medium build, and about 178cm tall. He has short black hair, brown eyes, and a "wispy goatee beard and moustache".

Tributes have already begun to flow online.

They include a Facebook post from Callum Blackmore saying: "Hope he comes back safe. Worked with James for a year, genuinely awesome dude."

James' disappearance comes five weeks after Mount Maunganui man Stephen Michael Tracey, 37, went missing after he was last seen by family on September 28.

Five-year-old Jack Dixon also remains missing after being swept away by a large wave at Mount Maunganui on October 1.

Tauranga police Senior Sergeant Glenn Saunders said it was not known what clothing James was wearing when he went missing but any person with knowledge of his whereabouts was asked to contact the nearest police station urgently.

James Vachre
*Male Maori, 22 years old
*Slim to medium build
*About 178cm tall
*Short black hair and brown eyes
*Wispy goatee beard and moustache