Ambulance communications were called about 4pm yesterday about a 33-year-old Paraparaumu man apparently lying injured in foothills bush behind Levin.
Police search controller Noel Bigwood said the man had phoned his father after falling and injuring his ankle so he could not walk.
"A team of four family friends had searched for him without success, so rang 111 and were put through to ambulance," Mr Bigwood said.
The Palmerston North-based Square trust rescue helicopter, with a crew of four, searched for the missing man but did not find him.
Horowhenua Search and rescue were notified and a SAR base set up at Levin Police Station.
At 7.40pm a ground team was deployed, and two more teams later entered the bush to comb the area where the man was reported to be.
A police central communications spokesman said the search would resume this morning.
