Searchers in Catlins take break

THE search for missing Dunedin man Stephen Lowe will pause today and resume tomorrow after volunteers have spent five days in the Catlins trying to locate him.

Mr Lowe has not been seen since Friday, September 15.

An assessment whether to continue the search will be made on Monday.

Clutha Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley, of Balclutha, said LandSAR had searched all week for Mr Lowe after his vehicle was found at the Catlins Conservation Park on Monday.

They had continued searching the Catlins area around McLean Falls with up to 20 volunteers.

The Police National Dive Squad also contributed to the search in the falls and the nearby river with assistance from kayakers.

She said police and search volunteers were considering calling the search off today to give everyone a break.

It had been five days of searching for the volunteers with no results so far.

Snr Sgt Fairley confirmed police had spoken to ‘‘Mike and Talia’’ who were believed to have been tramping in the area over the weekend.

They had assisted police with their movements.

Police were still appealing for information from anyone who might have seen Mr Lowe.

They were particularly interested in speaking with the occupants of a small red car parked at McLean Falls at 11am last Saturday.

This might have been a local vehicle or the vehicle of a tourist who had walked to the McLean Falls that day.

Police were grateful for the support of the LandSAR volunteers and the Catlins community during the search.

Police contact 021 1914831, Balclutha police (03) 4180203 or Crimestoppers 0800 55511.