Concerns are growing for three foreign trampers who are missing in Kahurangi National Park in Golden Bay.
A search operation has been launched today for the trio, who set off on a three-day tramp on April 12 and were expected to return a week ago, police said.
They were reported missing yesterday.
Police said the trio were believed to be an American woman in her 20s whose first name may be Cristin, 26-year-old Finnish woman Jenny Rautio and an American man known as "Izzy", who may be Guy Verschuur.
The group was initially heading towards the Anatoki Forks Hut and left vehicles at either end of their intended route. Both vehicles were still there, police search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Steve Savage said.
The trampers' last known contact was a text message on April 13 indicating their intention to be out of the area two days later and saying they were aware the weather was deteriorating.
However, there has since been heavy rain and flooding in the region and searchers say that if they had stuck to their intended route they should have been out days ago.
Police said little was known about the group or their experience in the outdoors.
Two ground search teams will enter the area today, with one going from Anatoki towards Forks Hut and the other towards Waingaro via the Killdevil track.
Police are keen to hear from anyone who has been tramping or mountain biking in the area since Friday, April 12 or anyone with further information about the missing people.
