Gisborne man Joseph Ahuriri who has been missing for a month. Photo: Supplied / NZ police
Police say the spreading of misinformation is hampering their search for Gisborne man Joseph Ahuriri who disappeared at the time Cyclone Gabrielle hit.
Ahuriri, 40, left home on 13 February around 4pm, heading towards Napier. He was last seen the next day, captured in a CCTV recording at the Waitomo Fuel Stop at Bay View with his white Toyota Hilux at 5.46am.
He drove north towards the Bay View village, police said on Wednesday. He had been expecting to get home earlier that morning.
Today police have released a statement saying they are aware of false speculation that a second person can be seen with Ahuriri in a CCTV recording from Waitomo Fuel Stop.
Inspector Martin James, from Hawke's Bay police, said the investigation team has extensively reviewed the CCTV recording and members were satisfied the only person shown in the recording was Ahuriri.
"The claims of a second person appear to relate to what is in fact an open door on Joseph's vehicle."
Inspector James said police were working hard on Ahuriri's disappearance and were trying to confirm his movements and provide answers for his whānau.
"Speculation such as this often comes from a place of people wanting to help, however, the spread of misinformation such as this is can be a significant hindrance to a police investigation," he said.
The discovery of the Waitomo Fuel Stop footage has led police to widen the search area. So far they have looked around Whakatu, Clive, Esk Valley, along the Napier-Taupo Rd, State Highway 5 and SH2, "in addition to many of the rural roads off SH5 and SH2".
Ahuriri was earlier seen on CCTV heading south from Havelock North at 5.15am. The road back to Gisborne was impassable at the time.
James urged anyone with information to contact police by calling 105, or going online to 105.police.govt.nz using 'Update Report' and the reference number 230225/2804.