Police say a man who has disappeared from a bush property up the Whanganui River valley has a chequered past and is known to them.
There are growing concerns for Brett Hall, of Palmerston North, who owns a lifestyle block off River Road near Parikino.
Mr Hall was reported missing on 31 May and police are working as if it is a homicide case to avoid missing clues.
The 47-year-old's caravan was found unlocked last week and his Toyota Hilux ute and quad bike were nearby.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby says they have found no sign of Mr Hall, despite using helicopters and body detection dogs across 20 square kilometres of rugged terrain.
Mr Kirby says Mr Hall has not come to the attention of police for a couple of years and they are trying to work out if the disappearance is connected to his history.
Some of Mr Hall's associates are also known to police.
Lee Hall says her heart lurched when her son went missing as she assumed he had been in an accident.
Ms Hall says she can't sleep for worrying and has pleaded for his friends and anyone else with possible leads to contact police.
