Bereft family fears foul play

Hugh McAllister disappeared 18 months ago. Photo / Supplied

The West Coast is unforgiving country. The remote wilderness is covered with dense bush, criss-crossed by wild rivers and scattered with old mine shafts.

It's a perfect place for someone to disappear - by choice, accident or foul play.

They are the scenarios facing police investigating the mysterious disappearance of goldminer Hugh McAllister almost 18 months ago. The 70-year-old was last seen on January 21 last year.

A friend arrived at his modest home in Kumara the next day to find it empty. His cellphone and wallet, bulging with $1500 cash, had been left behind.

The friend told police it was out of character for McAllister to leave cash at home.

A 10-day police search proved fruitless, and his family hired a helicopter to scour the area. The only trace of McAllister was his battered white ute, left on a remote riverside track, containing $1000 worth of gold.

Detective Sergeant Jackie Adams of Greymouth police said the widower had made "enemies" through business deals gone wrong.

He owed more than $100,000 after losing a civil court case.

"He had sold the mining rights to a part of the river to someone when he didn't own the rights. They took him to court and won.

"People either absolutely loved him or hated him. People say he was either the best thing since sliced bread or he was a wheeler-dealer who couldn't be trusted."

McAllister moved to the area from Hawke's Bay five years before his disappearance to prospect for gold in the Greenstone River. Sources told police he was earning up to $18,000 a week but not paying tax on the full amount.

"We can't confirm how much he was earning," said Adams. "Nothing about Hugh was flash. He lived in a standard weatherboard house in a small town and drove a ute that was falling to bits."

McAllister was last seen by three workmates as he drove his ute away from his gold claim about 3pm on the day he disappeared.

Adams said McAllister's friend, Bernard Kaye, raised the alarm after arriving from Napier about 5.30pm the following day.

"They had arranged to go fossicking together and Hugh told his friend he was looking forward to the visit," Adams said.

McAllister's daughter, Brenda, thinks he was murdered. Police have had a couple of calls about a possible homicide since an appeal for information screened on TV, but are keeping an open mind.

Police also investigated whether he had gone on the run from his money troubles or enemies - but Customs had no record of him leaving the country. "The family believe it was foul play but we are still treating him as a missing person," said Adams.

Anyone with information should contact 0800 107 4636.