Gregg Shaw, missing from Tauranga, was found alive after a car crashed on SH2

A man missing from Tauranga since Christmas Day was found alive this afternoon on a bench in his crashed car an hour north of Gisborne.

Greg Shaw, 67, was last seen in Pāpāmoa on Christmas morning. He was due to drive to Gisborne on December 26, but had not arrived.

Police asked the public for help in trying to find Shaw, saying they and Shaw’s family were concerned for his safety.

A police spokeswoman confirmed to the Bay of Plenty Times that Shaw had been found this afternoon in his car on a 5-meter bank off State Highway 2, north of Gisborne.

Shaw had crashed into a bank near Matawai and had been there ever since, he said.

They found him shortly after 4pm.

Shaw suffered some injuries “but he’s fine” and was conscious when rescuers discovered him, the spokeswoman said.

It is understood that Shaw’s family is now on their way to reunite with him.

A helicopter was dispatched to the scene to transport Shaw to the hospital.

SH2 will be closed between Cemetery Rd and Rakauroa Rd to allow the helicopter to land.

“The police would like to thank everyone who assisted with our investigations and contacted information during the search for the man.”