Police believe missing teen alive

File photo / NZ Herald

Police believe a Lower Hutt teen, who went missing over a week ago, is alive after spotting him on security footage.

Adam Rangi, 16, was last seen at his family home in the suburb of Woburn on January 25.

He has not used his bank accounts or his cellphone since he disappeared.

Police had seen footage of Mr Rangi visiting a Lower Hutt Countdown supermarket on January 29, Lower Hutt CIB Detective Constable Iain Burns said.

The sighting of Mr Rangi still had to be confirmed but police were "99 per cent sure" it was him.

Mr Burns urged the teen to contact police or his family, who were very concerned about his well-being.

"I'm very confident that he is somewhere here in Lower Hutt. If he can make contact with us it will help his family a lot to give them a bit of comfort that he is okay," he said.

- NZPA