Police accounts of what happened to Katikati father of two Siegfried Newman, who went missing 10 years ago on February 25, are at variance with each other.

One report says Siggy most likely died in the Kaimai Ranges on February 25, 2008, while a recent statement to SunLive from Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross, seems to indicate police believed Siggy was alive on February 26, 2008 – the day after he went missing.

SunLive has obtained documents relating to 'Order for Presumption of Death for Probate for Siegfried Newman” from the High Court of New Zealand which declared him to be presumed dead in October 2009, eight months after his disappearance.

These documents include the affidavit of Police Constable Steven George Campbell, who was responsible for the search and rescue operation for Siggy –dated 14 September 2009 which says in summary: 'I believe that it is most probable that on 25 February 2008 Siegfried suddenly decided to go off into the Kaimai area on his own where he had some sort of accident which prevented him from returning and he died there.

The Kaimai area is a vast area covered in dense bush which means a body could be out there and easily remain hidden and may never be found. This is what I believe happened to Siegfried.”

Although Siggy's car was still at his Lund Road home on Tuesday February 26, police say statements from two witnesses that they saw Siggy at Pahoia School that day indicate he was still alive.

Police haven't been able to explain how he got to the school at least 10km away on State Highway 2 when his car was at Lund Rd, nor how he disappeared again without being seen by anyone else.

'I am comfortable with the witness information regarding the sighting of Mr Newman on the 26^th,” says Senior Sergeant Glencross.

'While the female witness was unsure of the day, her statement supported that of the male witness who was confident of the day. They both described activities taking place at the school when they reported seeing Mr Newman which the school were able to confirm took place on that 26th.”

After asking why these two police statements fail to agree on the possible date of Siggy's death SunLive received the following statement: 'Police can confirm that the content of the statement to you from Snr Sgt Rob Glencross is accurate and still stands.”

That would appear to indicate police believe Siggy was alive on February 26 and went to school to see his sons Thomas and Oliver – then 10 and eight years old.

Friends who knew Siggy don't believe this to be true. They are adamant that if he went to the school that day, he would have made contact with his sons.

They also doubt the theory that Siggy walked more than five kilometres from his Lund Road home into the Kaimai Forest.

'He was emotionally and physically exhausted when he visited us with his boys on the Sunday before he went missing,” says a friend who doesn't wish to be named. 'Siggy had a cold and was coughing too. He was very unwell. I doubt he could have walked 500 metres, let alone five kilometres.”

Siggy's disappearance is a tragic mystery for his sons and family. It happened within a few short months of the equally tragic death of his wife Vicki-Lee after a battle with cancer.

Peter Rae of Katikati, his wife and children had been friends with Siggy, Vicki-Lee and children Thomas and Oliver since the children had attended day care together.

'We would have barbeques and the children would play together. When Vicki was diagnosed with cancer and went through what she did, we did what we could for the family,” says Peter.

'Siggy has been out of our lives for so long, but I do think of him from time to time. If he's out there in the bush somewhere, the chances of finding him get less as less. The fact nothing has been found despite all the searching makes me wonder if he did go bush.

'Siggy was what I call an urban-bushman who liked to stick to formed tracks. I don't believe he would have taken his life as Siggy was afraid of pain. He would not have deliberately left his boys.”

When he found out Siggy was missing Peter rang police to tell them of a phone conversation with Siggy in which he said he had arranged a meeting at his home with a man on Monday February 25 to discuss a financial dispute. 'I offered to go into the police station to make a statement about that but was told not to bother, they had all the information they needed.”

Police have told SunLIve: 'The case remains a missing person matter. There is no evidence of foul play.”

Peter says there are too many unanswered questions about Siggy's disappearance. 'I believe there needs to be an official, independent inquiry into what happened,” he says. Despite the passage of time – Siggy is not forgotten, says Andy Goodall of Whakamarama.

'Every time I go into the Kaimai Ranges in areas where Siggy might have walked, I look for him. Six months ago, I was in the area of the Eliza Mine and I searched tracks I'd never been on before, but saw no trace of Siggy,” says Andy who is experienced in search and rescue, including time in Antarctica.

Following the official search for Siggy in 2008, Andy set aside two to three days a week for most of March and April to systematically search areas of the Kaimai Range and farms and orchards around the Newman home.

He used a GPS to record everywhere he searched and even took his dog in the hope she might find something.

'Every so often people ask me about Siggy and following the re-screening of the 'Sensing Murder” programme about his disappearance, I had some people contact me and I referred them to police to give statements.

'Siggy's sons are similar age to my boys and I wonder how they are doing.”

Andy does not believe Siggy would have deliberately left his boys and his continued searching is motivated by a desire to find answers for them to what happened to their father.

Police says: 'There has been no activity on any of the bank accounts identified as being linked to Mr Newman. While the case is currently classified as a missing person file, that is open to review should further information come to light.”

Should anyone have any new information regarding Mr Newman's disappearance they can contact the Tauranga Police on (07) 5774300 or they can do so anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.