Leo Lipp-Neighbours

Wellington, Feb 1 NZPA - The family of missing Nelson teenager Leo Lipp-Neighbours are still praying he may still be alive, more than a week after he disappeared without a trace.

They are hoping photos of his distinctive orange 1987 Toyota Corolla stationwagon will jog memories as they desperately search for even the slightest evidence as to where their son may have headed.

The 19-year-old was last seen at his flat in Nelson about 4am on January 24 when, after having a bit to drink, he told his flatmates he was just going outside.

He drove off wearing just a T-shirt and jeans, did not have any food and only a little bit of cash. He had not used his money card or cellphone since.

Mr Lipp-Neighbours is the only son of Charlotte Lipp and Colin Neighbours, who have escalated their search efforts since last Monday.

More than 30 friends and helpers were out searching today but found no sign of him, despite scouring the top of the South Island, including the highways and back roads around Westport, Golden Bay, Hanmer Springs and Marlborough.

The family has paid for three helicopter searches and said they would pay for more if they thought it was worthwhile.

Their search will continue this week.

A mechanical engineering student at Canterbury University who had successfully completed his first year, Mr Lipp-Neighbours did not want to go back this year.

Police said he was in a "negative state of mind" on the night of his disappearance, adding to concerns for his safety.

But Mr Neighbours believed his son was tired and may have driven off the road. "It seems he had the intention to go for a bit of a drive, he has done that before. He is a little bit of a night owl," he told NZPA.

"There is absolutely no doubt he has come to grief on the road and is unable to get back."

Police were doing all they could, but with no leads they were not able to put search and rescue teams out, Mr Neighbours said.

His son liked to drive on gravel roads, and the searchers had been in touch with the Department of Conservation and forestry companies in case he had driven off a forestry back road.

They had also canvassed service stations, security firms, and looked at security camera footage but with out any success.

The family was naturally devastated, Mr Neighbours said.

"As each day goes by the outcome just doesn't look so good, to look at it realistically. But we are hopeful of finding him alive and that keeps us motivated.

"We are determined to find him. For us there is no way he is hiding somewhere. He would just not do that.

"I will continue searching until I have covered everything. I am just not going to stop and do nothing."