Police extend search for missing man

The investigation into missing Otautau man Dale Watene has been extended to Tuatapere, police confirmed yesterday.

An eyewitness contacted Stuff on Monday to report that a forensic team was investigating a house just outside Tuatapere.

This followed a forensic examination of a Sorn St property in Otautau last week.

Detective Sergeant Chris Lucy said Southland police were actively investigating Watene’s disappearance and continued to hold grave concerns for his safety.

Watene went missing on April 16, a day after his 40th birthday.

His blue 1995 Isuzu SUV, registration CGE 638, was found two days later at Holt Park in Otautau, which is when his friends realised none of them had heard from him since before the previous weekend.

Watene is the father of a 5-year-old boy and is described as being of thin build and 183 centimetres tall.

He shopped at a supermarket in Otautau on his birthday, but his bank card hasn’t been used since. The last call made from his mobile number was at 9.30pm on April 16 but the recipient didn’t answer.

Lucy said police continued to liaise closely with Watene’s family and had searched a number of areas of interest in Otautau and Tuatapere.

An intensive search of the Longwoods forestry area was planned for Saturday, he said. Lucy asked hunters and trampers to refrain from visiting the Longwoods forest.

‘‘We would prefer people to stay out of this area on Saturday but would ask that those who do access the forest please be extra vigilant for anything unusual, and to please notify police straight away,’’ he said.