Winds may delay hunt for tramper

High alpine winds are likely to hamper efforts to locate a British tramper who has not been seen in 10 days.

Andrew Ian Wyatt, 41, arrived in New Zealand on November 21 for a second attempt at walking part of the Te Araroa Trail, which links tramping routes from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

He was last seen on December 15, when he left Blue Lake Hut in the Nelson Lakes about 6am. He was expected to pick up a food package at Boyle Village in Lewis Pass on December 16, but never turned up.

A Nelson police spokeswoman said the search would resume when weather permitted, but that high winds could prevent this until tomorrow.

Wyatt’s parents in England had not heard from him since December 12 and were ‘‘very concerned’’ for his safety, the spokeswoman said.

Police search and rescue co-ordinator Senior Constable Gerry Tonkin said Wyatt’s parents were not yet planning to travel to New Zealand.

A helicopter spent three hours on Monday visiting the huts in the area. Tonkin said there were a lot of trampers on the tracks, but no sign of Wyatt.

It was a case of ‘‘deja vu’’ for police, as Wyatt failed to reach a planned meeting when walking the same trail last year. He made plans to meet fellow walkers in Arthur’s Pass, but instead left the trail and never met them. Police did not search for him that time, because he was never reported as a missing person.

Tonkin hoped Wyatt had done the same thing again and was ‘‘sitting in a cafe in Queenstown’’ unaware that police were searching for him.

Police were tracing his bank and telephone records in the hope that transactions would indicate he was out of the mountains.

Wyatt was classed as a ‘‘lightweight tramper’’ and would have ‘‘no back up’’ if something went wrong, Tonkin said.

‘‘If he is still in that area then we have serious concerns for his welfare.’’

The area he had planned to walk through was probably the trickiest section of the whole trail, with hazards such as bluffs and steep slopes, Tonkin said.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Nelson police on 03 546 3840.