Searching for Stan Blake who has been missing for about six weeks

Missing: Where is Paul Stanley Blake? The man known as Stan has been missing since he left Australia for Gisborne six weeks ago but is known to have landed here. His family want to hear from him.

Family members of missing man Paul Stanley Blake have arrived in Gisborne in search of answers.

Rob and Amanda Blake have not heard from their brother, better known as Stan, since he left Australia six weeks ago.

Rob Blake and his wife arrived in Gisborne this week in the hope of finding Stan but so far have no new information.

Amanda Blake describes her brother as a “very quiet” man who loves fishing and enjoys talking about camping and hunting.

He moved to Sydney Australia in 2006, where he worked in warehousing driving forklifts and packing. In 2016 he moved to Queensland and worked as a painter and decorator.

He is the son of Patricia Edwards from Wairoa and John Thomas Blake from Mahia.

His mother said: “Come home son.”

Amanda says he decided to travel back to New Zealand for work.

“He told us he was headed to Tauranga to find work in the forest. Airlines have confirmed he left Australia on February 28, and landed in Gisborne at about 9.15am on March 1.”

“It has been nearly six weeks and still no word from him to any family in Australia or New Zealand,” she says.

It was “out of character” for him to have gone so long without speaking to family.

About a week ago a note was found among some of Stan’s belongings at Amanda’s house, listing items like tent, shovel, and shoes, and it also had the words “head to Mahia.”

Amanda says the past few weeks had been traumatising for the family.

“We are completely shocked as this is not like him to have not contacted us. It is out of his character. We are extremely worried for his wellbeing and scared he might be alone and/or injured and unsafe.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed to the New Zealand Herald they had received a missing persons report on April 6 regarding the 31-year-old man who had not been in contact with his family.

“The man was visiting New Zealand from Australia and has not spoken to his family since arriving at the end of February,” she said.

“Police are making inquiries to establish if the man is OK.”