Dog team to be used in hunt for missing tramper Roy Arbon as new area of interest identified

A search dog team will be used in the next stage of the search for a missing 75-year-old tramper who has been missing for 10 days after failing to return from a day tramp.

Roy Arbon, a former Erebus disaster recovery worker and one-time accidental international drug smuggler, left his Rūnanga home on July 23.

A handwritten note said: “Gone for walk. Mt Davy to Mt Sewell. Back tonight or tomorrow morning”.

After finding the note, a concerned neighbour raised the alarm the next day.

Since then, Police and search and rescue teams, aided by a host of volunteers and specialist crews, have spent approximately 1700 search hours working to locate Arbon.

Photo / NZ Police

Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood said a large push was made on Saturday, with every available resource mustered into the area.

Kirkwood said the next stage in the mission to locate Arbon would begin Tuesday.

“Tomorrow, we intend to send in a dog team and searchers to a further area of interest that we have identified.

“We continue to assess any new information received that might lead to Roy’s location.

“It’s very disappointing not to have found Roy to date, and we know how gutting it is, not just for his family, but the wider community.”

Dog teams will be the next step in the search for missing tramper, Roy Arbon. Photo / NZ Police

Kirkwood said searchers were grateful for help from the public.

“To anyone who has come out and helped us search, brought supplies, or sent messages of support, thank you.”