Teen's fate mystifies cops

Cem Erbay was last seen after leaving the party in Whitianga. Photo / Christine Cornege

Police and friends held concerns last night for an Auckland teenager who disappeared while walking home from a New Year's Eve party in Whitianga.

Seven search and rescue teams were looking for Cem Erbay, who went missing about 4am while walking home with a friend.

His family say his disappearance is "completely out of the ordinary" and they are hoping that reports that he may have bought food and drink 20km away in Matarangi about five hours later are true.

Mr Erbay, 19, is the stepson of former TVNZ journalist Simon Mercep, the new co-presenter of Radio NZ's Morning Report.

Mercep said his stepson's friends had travelled to Whitianga to help with the search.

"It's obviously very worrying but we are trying to keep pretty positive," he said.

Mercep said police were confident a person seen in a Matarangi store about 9am on Saturday matched Cem Erbay's description.

"The positives are that it's warm and he's got cash. We weren't sure what his access to food and water would be, so at least he got some food and some drink."

Cem (pronounced "Jem") did not make an agreed meeting with his girlfriend yesterday at Whangapoua, and he could not be contacted on his cellphone.

Mr Erbay, who is studying for a bachelor of arts degree at Auckland University, was last seen by his friend Will Killip.

Mr Killip, a 19-year-old engineering student and a former schoolmate, said they had been drinking at a friend's house in Whitianga to see in the New Year.

After sobering up, they decided to go to their holiday accommodation at Wharekaho. They crossed the Tohetea Stream bridge at the southern end of Wharekaho but Mr Erbay wanted to walk through a paddock to the beach.

"He just started walking to the beach. He didn't say anything, he didn't respond," said Mr Killip. "I came back home and thought he was here, too, so I just crashed out."

Alarm bells started ringing when Mr Killip woke and found his friend had not made it home.

He said Mr Erbay, who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and jeans but no shoes, was a friendly type.

"He's the kind of guy who will walk up to anyone and start talking ... But yeah, it is a worry."

Yesterday, about 60 volunteers dressed in high-visibility clothing searched the area where Mr Erbay was last seen.

A dog and its handler scoured the northern end of the beach.

The Westpac rescue helicopter was also involved briefly in the search, and a coastguard boat checked the coastline north of Wharekaho.

Senior Sergeant Graham Shields, the Thames Coromandel sub-area manager, said the searchers had been moved north to Matarangi.

He said Mr Erbay could have walked to Matarangi from Wharekaho but it was more likely that he had hitched a ride.

Mr Erbay has a mild heart condition and there are concerns that any over-exertion could make him disoriented.

"For that reason," said Mr Shields, "we are asking anyone who may have spoken with someone in a disoriented state to make contact with us."