Lofty Maki.
Photo: Police / Supplied
Bay of Plenty police say they have turned up “nothing substantial” in the search for a man who vanished without trace last year.
Lofty Maki, was last seen at about 5.30pm on 6 December at a Pak’nSave supermarket in Rotorua.
The 63-year-old then drove home to Murupara, but what happened after that is not clear. His car – a white Suzuki Grand Vitara – was last detected by cameras at 1.56am on 7 December heading south towards Napier, police said. Seven minutes later, it was spotted heading back towards Taupō.
“Checks of Taupō, Whakatāne and Rotorua hospitals turned up no results,” police said in a statement on Thursday.
They checked with banks, councils, supermarkets, followed up leads and carried out searches on foot, but nothing came of it.
“Over the past two months, police, whānau and friends have carried out extensive searches across the region,” police said.
“Lofty’s loved ones have painstakingly searched every possible fishing spot in the Western Bay of Plenty, along with service stations and the places he frequented. Unfortunately, nothing substantial has turned up.”
Maki is between 160cm and 170cm tall, of thin build. Police said he might be in the early stages of dementia, sometimes forgetting where he is.
He was last seen wearing an orange and black hoodie, grey track pants and Roman sandals.
Police said the case remains open – anyone with information should call 105 or file an online report and quote file number 221210/8845.
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