KEY POINTS:
Searchers have not given up hope of finding a missing Polish tramper alive.
Jacek Gryzbowski, 28, was last seen at about 9am on Saturday by residents in Sunny Grove, Wainuiomata, seeking directions for the start of the Whakanui Track, which runs from the street into the Rimutaka Forest Park.
He was equipped only for a day's tramp. Yesterday, Mr Gryzbowski was coming up to his sixth night in the open, in cold conditions in the park.
His flatmates, also Polish, became increasingly worried when he did not return home on Saturday evening.
They had not been sure what to do and on Tuesday told their employer, who contacted police.
The officer in charge of the search, Inspector Mike Wright, said Mr Gryzbowski needed to be found.
"If he's hunkered down under bush and fern cover and keeping warm, then it is survivable."
Since Wednesday, he said, 40 police and search and rescue volunteers had been checking tracks, bush and waterways. An Air Force Iroquois helicopter was used yesterday to help drop ground search teams into remote areas of the park and to undertake aerial searches.
Mr Wright said the teams were to come out of the park last night but would return today, along with the Iroquois.
Searchers were concentrating on the most likely areas.
It was believed Mr Gryzbowski hoped to tramp to Mt Matthews and back, he said.
The demanding tramp was unlikely to have been achieved in one day.
"We haven't excluded other areas, and have also focused on the Wainuiomata water catchment area."
Police were appealing to trampers, hunters and other bush users who were in the park over the weekend to contact police if they saw Mr Gryzbowski.
He is described as 180cm tall, with brown/blond hair and of medium build.
He arrived in Wellington in February on a working holiday and has spent most weekends exploring bush and coastal tracks in the region.
Some of his family are due in Wellington at the weekend.
- NZPA
