Search goes on in Catlins for missing Dunedin man

THE search for missing Dunedin man Stephen Lowe will continue today after yesterday’s ‘‘significant’’ search in the Catlins turned up no results.

Mr Lowe left his Portsmouth Dr workplace last Friday morning and has not been seen or heard from since.

His black 2005 BMW hatchback was located by a member of the public in the Catlins Conservation Park on Tuesday morning.

A significant area of land and tracks had been covered around the McLean Falls area, Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley said in a statement yesterday.

The search will resume today, after nothing was found yesterday.

‘‘At this stage, the search has been negative but swift water searchers from Dunedin will be included [today],’’ Snr Sgt Fairley said.

The search was called off at 6pm yesterday for the safety of the searchers involved.

There were 31 Land Search and Rescue volunteer searchers from the Catlins, Dunedin and Clutha areas.

Three search dogs and a helicopter were also used in the search yesterday.

The aerial search was limited, due to the dense native bush in the area.

Snr Sgt Fairley would like to hear from ‘‘Mike and Talia’’, who were known to have been tramping in the area at the weekend.

They may be from the Dunedin area.

Snr Sgt Fairley 021 1915318; Balclutha police (03) 4180203.