Concerns are growing for a man missing from his New Plymouth home for several days.
49-year-old Xizhong ZHU, known as Mark, lives alone in New Plymouth and works as an engineer for a local oil company. He had mentioned in passing to a colleague that he was going to Auckland for the Queen's holiday weekend, but on Tuesday he failed to turn up for work. Neither family nor friends have heard from him, or have been able to contact him.
Detective Paul Barron from New Plymouth CIB said: "This is totally out of character for Mr Zhu and there has been nothing in his recent behaviour that would explain his sudden disappearance. He has a son at university on the south island who he contacts without fail every weekend, but this weekend that contact wasn't made."
Mr Zhu was born in China but has worked over in New Zealand for 8 years. He has a New Zealand passport but he has not left the country on that passport. He drives a red Subaru Impreza hatchback, registration CDK 640, that is also missing, and he is 170cm tall, with a thin build, black hair and brown eyes.
Detective Barron said: "We don't know why he would be going to Auckland as he has no known friends or relatives there, but we have had information suggesting he may have been in the Newmarket area on Saturday evening, so if he did travel north he probably went in his car and may have booked into a hotel or motel.
"If Mr Zhu is safe and well we would urge him to make contact with the police or a friend or family member. Anyone who knows of his whereabouts should contact us immediately."
Media enquiries should be referred to Detective Paul Barron on 06 759 9428.