Police have issued pleas for help in finding Mr Ridley, as it was out of character for the Waihi man to disappear. Mr Ridley had also left his car parked outside his house.
It is understood Mr Ridley had been living and working on a large farm in the valley off Landlyst Rd about halfway between inland Waihi and Whiritoa before he went missing.
Six search and rescue teams yesterday searched farmland around Orokawa Scenic Reserve but had not yet found anything to assist in finding Mr Ridley.
Mr Ridley is described as 1.70m tall and has brown hair styled into a mullet. Local residents have described Mr Ridley as a "nice guy" who kept to himself.
A local butcher known to the community as Porky said the community had been talking about the disappearance and hoped the family were coping.
"I do hope they find him. I feel for his family," he said.
Officer in charge of the search police constable Brian Connors said police were now assessing what next steps to take. Police were continuing to make other enquiries to locate him, Mr Connors said.
"Mr Ridley's family are being kept up to date as to where we are at with the search, and we are continuing to support them during this time."
