The search is continuing for a French tourist, whose car was found abandoned at a Haumoana beach.

Hawke's Bay Police are searching for Pierre Paludet, 32, who has not been seen since Friday morning.

Local residents notified police after noticing his car had been sitting at the Haumoana Domain car park unused for a number of days.

Read more: Missing French tourist sparks search and rescue call out

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He was last seen by the blue car, which he had been travelling in.

Yesterday search and rescue teams were called out to help local authorities.

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter spent several hours scouring the area around Haumoana, flying over to Clifton and out towards Cape Kidnappers.

General Manager Ian Wilmot said they had been called by police to assist in the search for the missing tourist. He was not sure if the search was focused on the water, or both land and sea.

The coastguard was also called to assist in the search.

Although search and rescue teams were deployed, yesterday a police spokeswoman said police were just treating Mr Paludet as a missing person at this stage.

She said police are would like to hear from anyone who has information on his whereabouts or might have seen him lately.

This is the second trip search and rescue teams have made to the beach near Hastings in the past week. On Tuesday they were involved in the search for a missing Taupo woman, who drowned in the beachside lagoon while trying to rescue two children.

-Anyone who has information about Mr Paludet's whereabouts is urged to contact Hastings Police on (06) 831 0700.