Police fear for missing tramper after search fails

Ping Yang says her brother is ill-equipped for a long stay in the bush.

Police have serious concerns for tramper Anshan Yang after more then 40 searchers scouring the rugged Hunua Ranges just south of Auckland failed to find him yesterday.

The search covered all tracks, rivers and falls and included off-track searches in the area the 54-year-old from Albany was last seen on Sunday afternoon, and other likely areas.

Police expected colder and deteriorating conditions overnight.

The search was called off at nightfall and was to resume at first light.

Mr Yang's worried sister, Ping Yang, said yesterday that he was underdressed, poorly equipped and likely to be weakening rapidly.

Police believe Mr Yang could have misread track markers and become lost after falling behind his sister and her son Yang during their hike. He was wearing a T-shirt and grey jacket, trousers and sports shoes when he went missing about 3pm.

The search and rescue personnel have combed about 12 tracks in the Upper Mangatawhiri Dam area and are now focusing on Ernie's Track and bush about 500m either side.

"Everything is heading us into this small area," search leader Senior Sergeant Dene Duthie said yesterday.

But police are still keen to speak with a tramper who encountered the group soon after they began their walk about 11am on Sunday, and some English tourists who saw Mrs Yang and her son about 6pm.

Mr Duthie said that despite the time of year, warmer weather meant there was still a good chance Mr Yang was alive. "It would not be pleasant out there ... but we are optimistic."

Police from Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei have joined Air Force, Auckland Regional Council, St John and Watercare staff in the hunt for Mr Yang, and many searchers stayed overnight in bush between the Upper Mangatawhiri and Mangatangi Reservoir.

Mr Duthie said the searchers had also taken boats up the Upper Mangatawhiri, in case Mr Yang had fallen into the water from Waterline Rd.

Ping Yang spent yesterday waiting anxiously at search headquarters near the dam for word of her brother.

She described him as a healthy man who enjoyed walking to keep fit.

However, she said, he had eaten little before Sunday's tramp and she feared he would be getting weak.

The trio had set themselves a goal of walking 100 tracks in the Auckland region and had so far completed 14.

The siblings work as cleaners on the North Shore, and mundane considerations such as getting to work on time occupied Mrs Yang's mind.

She was due to begin work at 6.30pm and was worried she still had to negotiate the busy Southern Motorway back to Auckland City.