Police release picture of missing tramper on bike before disappearance
The 75-year-old, described as an "experienced hiker", was overdue from a walk in the Mt Davy area northeast of Greymouth on Wednesday.
Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood, who was the officer in charge of West Coast Search and Rescue, said police remained committed to the ongoing search.
"Over the weekend, search teams have been on the ground in the Mt Davy area, with continued support from LandSAR volunteers and helicopters.
"Staff have been using all tools and techniques available to them."
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The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including wintry blast on the way, Gloriavale leader in court, and Liam Lawson picks up points. (Source: Breakfast)
The area Arbon is missing in was "mountainous and challenging," police earlier said.
Police were particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen Arbon on the morning he went missing.
"He was seen heading from Runanga to the Mt Davy area on a red bike," Kirkwood said.
Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105.
Roy Arbon. (Source: NZ Police)
Arbon was working for the Antarctic division of New Zealand's Department of Scientific and Industrial Research when Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus in 1979. All 237 passengers and 20 crews were killed.
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He played a key role in the recovery operation and later recounted his involvement to NZ History.
"Conditions were dangerous. We were working on a glacier, and we did not know where the crevasses were. When these were found they were marked with a flag. I remember carrying a suitcase with all the paraphernalia in it with an ice axe in the other hand probing for crevasses," he recalled.
"One thing that has stayed with me is the smell of unburnt aviation fuel. When the plane went down there was a blast from the aviation fuel but not all of it burnt off.
"When I returned to Scott Base after the recovery phase, I was asked to help erect a memorial cross on the site. This was done in a gale-force wind so bad the helicopter could not shut down. I believe this was because the wind was blowing so hard, they wouldn't be able to get the machine started without damage to the main rotors."
Wreckage from the Mount Erebus plane crash. (Source: Colin Monteith / Antarctica New Zealand Pictorial Collection)
Years later, Arbon was again involved in a national tragedy — this time helping recover the bodies of 14 people who died when a viewing platform collapsed at Cave Creek in Paparoa National Park in 1995.
Arbon was also entangled in an international drug smuggling case, being detained in Australia after authorities discovered over 2kg of cocaine hidden in a suitcase he had carried from Brazil.
He was later found not guilty of all charges following a trial in Western Australia's District Court.
His ordeal was documented in the film The Scam, which explored how unsuspecting travellers could be exploited by criminal networks.
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