Police are continuing their search for an elderly man who has been missing for four days in the Taupo area.
Alan Pritchard, 78, has Alzheimer's disease. He was last seen putting out the rubbish outside his rural home at Bonshaw Park, near Taupo, on Thursday morning.
Police, search and rescue teams and a rescue helicopter have been searching for him since his disappearance was reported on Thursday afternoon.
The search teams include volunteers from Taupo, Waihi, Hamilton, Rotorua, Taihape, Ruapehu and Hawke's Bay, and police search and rescue dogs have also been called in.
Police said Mr Pritchard was wearing glasses, a blue hat with ear flaps, grey trousers, a grey jacket over a black jersey and black boots at the time he went missing.
Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said the weather had affected the search.
"Searchers have experienced challenging weather conditions, terrain and vegetation in the area around Bonshaw Park, and our concern for Mr Pritchard's safety continues to grow," he said.
"Temperatures are low here today and we're expecting gusty westerlies and some showers."
He urged anyone who may have information about Mr Pritchard's whereabouts to contact police.
