Missing man's drug past

Searchers prepare to be transported by an RNZAF helicopter into rugged bush near the Whanganui River. Photo / Bevan Conley

The last time police were looking for Brett Hall, they discovered a drug-dealing empire.

A raid on his Palmerston North home in 2005 uncovered 60g of P packed into bags ready for sale, 26kg of cannabis, ecstasy tablets, LSD and $13,000 in small bills.

A loaded pistol was within "arm's reach" and surveillance cameras monitored the rear entrance.

Details of the missing man's criminal history emerged this week as police scoured his 330ha property in hill country 25km northeast of Wanganui.

The 47-year-old was jailed for 7 years in December 2005 after pleading guilty to drugs and weapons charges.

Police referred to his "chequered past" this week but refused to elaborate.

However, Hall's descent into drug-dealing to feed what police say was a "severe" P addiction almost had a catastrophic effect on his son.

Aged 18, Damian Hall stood in the dock accused of possessing 125g of P for supply. Police alleged he had taken control of his father's drug-dealing empire after he was jailed.

Damian was acquitted at Palmerston North District Court in December 2006 after a jury found he intended to destroy his father's drugs, the Manawatu Standard reported.

Brett Hall had apparently been hit hard by the death of his father Roy in an explosion at his workplace, Triple R Engineering, in 2001.

Damian's mother Levona described Hall as being "left in limbo" by the investigation, which lasted two years before the firm was convicted and fined over Roy's death.

Hall bought his property, on the banks of the Whanganui River, on his release from jail in late 2009. His family said he had left behind his life of crime and was building his dream home.

Hall's mother Lee was horrified her son's criminal history had been dredged up. But police have refused to discount the possibility that Hall was murdered and are running a homicide investigation alongside the search.

His property is in an area famous for its rugged beauty, attracting thousands of tourists to its panoramic views and the colourful history of settlements such as Jerusalem.

Residents said the area was extremely treacherous and Hall could easily have slipped and fallen from one of the steep bluffs that scar the land.

Neighbour John Thurlow reported Hall missing on June 2 after noticing an injured possum had been left to suffer in one of his traps.

Thurlow said it was difficult country to survive in if someone got injured and held little hope of rescuers finding Hall alive.

Hall had been a good neighbour, warning him when a dog attacked his sheep a few weeks ago.

"You certainly rely on each other up here."

Another neighbour, Petrine Wickham, who used to own Hall's property, said several people had died falling into ravines in the past few years.

"It would be quite easy to disappear."

Specialist alpine rescuers join hunt

A large team of police, army personnel and volunteers will this morning resume the search for Brett Hall.

Up to 80 people and an air force Iroquois helicopter are spending the weekend combing hill country for the 47-year-old, last seen two weeks ago.

The number of searchers was boosted significantly to cover as much ground as possible.

Yesterday specialist alpine rescue volunteers joined the operation to abseil into areas too difficult to reach on foot.

Senior Sergeant Darcy Forrester said most searchers were volunteers.

"An operation of this size is not typical but the terrain is not typical and we are also mindful that there is a homicide investigation running in parallel to our search," he said.

"The more area we cover without finding Mr Hall, the more that will assist the homicide team in determining whether or not there is an innocent explanation for his disappearance."

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby said police were still appealing for visitors to Hall's property to come forward.

They were particularly keen to talk to the driver of a white flat deck ute seen leaving the track to the property about 7pm two Sundays ago.

Kirby said if the driver failed to come forward, his actions would be considered suspicious.

Police yesterday released a CCTV image of Hall taken less than a week before he went missing.

The image showed him wearing a checked shirt, singlet, black shorts and Jandals.

Anyone with information can contact Wanganui Police on 06 349 0600 or 0800 555111.