'Prayers have been answered': Missing 78-year-old Kalisa Akiono found down steep bank, Henderson Valley

Police found Kalisa Akiono down a steep bank in the Waitakere Ranges after the 78-year-old had been missing for three days from his home in Sunnyvale. Photo / Supplied

Emergency services today found an elderly man in a serious condition lying down a steep bank in Auckland's Henderson Valley, the same area a missing man was last spotted on Monday evening.

Police said Kalisa Akiono, 78, has been found and is safe. Police were responding to an incident on Mountain Rd about midday today. His family described "lots of hugging, crying and jumping for joy" the moment they learnt he had been found.

Akiono's daughter, Luisa Kelekolio said he was a keen walker, who collected aluminium cans as a hobby. Kelekolio said it was possible a black plastic bag of cans sat on the road near where he was found saved his life.

"He'll be coming home instead of - you know, just - I'm relieved he was found," she said.

Kalisa Akiono and his wife Teresia, who "jumped for joy" when her husband was found after being missing since Monday. Photo / Supplied

Akiono was "really good", talking and hungry, she said. "I'm sure he wants island food though."

Akiono moved to New Zealand about the 1960s/70s when he was in his twenties to take up work manufacturing sheet metal, Kelekolio said. "He used to make steel benches for McDonald's and Wendy's. He's done lots of stuff in the city, he even made a piece of steel artwork in Newmarket."

She said Akiono, "a very fit man", was recently diagnosed with dementia, and the family was working together to provide him with the care he needed.

"He's a very naughty guy for walking out like this. This is the biggest thing that's ever happened since he's been diagnosed. He's declining very fast. Everybody keeps saying it's really hard, but we're only just learning how it all works."

St John sent two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance after an incident was reported at 12.03pm on Mountain Rd near Scenic Drive.

A man was in a serious condition and had to be winched out from the bank. He was then flown to Auckland City Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The man was found in the area Akiono was the last sighted. Akiono had been missing since Monday October 10 after leaving his home in Sunnyvale for a walk. Kelekolio said her father always returned from his walks before 11pm.

"He has a set time when he goes home. Mum always gets up, because he knocks on the door. She always makes sure he's home, so she rung me when he wasn't there. I panicked."

Police found CCTV footage of Akiono on Scenic Drive about 10pm Monday, Kelekolio said. He could be seen walking towards the Waiaturua/Titirangi areas. He had earlier been spotted in Bruce McLaren Rd, walking towards Parrs Park in Sunnyvale.

Police earlier appealed for the public's help finding Akiono. He was last seen wearing a brown/black checkered long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and jandals. Kelekolio said he was also wearing a face mask. Police said Akiono had distinctive tattoos on both his legs and left arm.

Keri Kelekolio said the family were worried about Akiono's whereabouts. There was a large response from police and the public.

Kelekolio said Akiono's family had been working closely with police. A search party, a helicopter and sniffer dogs had been searching for Akino yesterday.

"We're still worried. It's his third day missing - it's been three days and two nights," they said at the time.