THE family of former Saints coach Mike McClennan have joined the police in making an urgent appeal for help finding the 75-year-old who has gone missing from his rest home in Auckland.

With 40 hours now passed, the police say it is now "time critical" to find Mike, who is suffering from severe dementia, and who was last seen in Orewa walking Northbound on the Hibiscus Coast Highway about 5pm (New Zealand time) on Wednesday.

Police have resumed searching this morning and search and rescue staff have spent the past two days conducting an extensive search of the area.

Along with search and rescue ground staff, Police have also conducted aerial searches over the past two days with the Police Eagle Helicopter.

Despite a few reports of possible sightings, Police are yet to locate Mr McClennan.

He was last seen wearing a red and black top and blue jeans.

St Helens Star:

His son Brian McClennan said: "We are all looking for my father, who was last seen walking through Hatfields Beach North on Wednesday night.

"He's 75 and suffering from severe dementia and he has not been able to take his meds this last couple of days.

"We are all really worried."

Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw of Rodney Police, amplified that concern.

Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw says Mr Clennan has dementia and is likely to be in a confused and disorientated state.

“Our concerns grow with each hour that Mike McClennan remains missing and we desperately want to find him and reunite him with his family.

"It is time critical now as it has been more than 40 hours. We need to hear from anyone who has a sight of him or anyone who looks like him," he said.

The New Zealander was a popular Saints coach between 1990-93, who helped move the club forward again and guided them to Wembley in 1991 and a Premiership win in 1992-3.