Police are continuing to appeal for any information that will help find a missing Tauranga man.

No clues and no trace of missing man David Holland have been found during an intensive search by hundreds on Saturday.

Volunteers turned out at a Tauranga beach to search for the Pāpāmoa doctor, missing for more than a week, with no success.

The search kicked off at Pāpāmoa Surf Club at 9am, and primarily concentrated on the sand dunes in the Pāpāmoa Beach area close to where the 31-year-old anaesthetist is believed to have gone missing.

Volunteers found 36 items, but police say unfortunately none of them had any relevance to the missing man.

The Tauranga Land Search and Rescue teams also searched more difficult areas in the dunes, covering spaces that are not visible from the air.

They also found nothing of interest, says police.

Holland's former partner, Margarita (Rita) Khabitueva, says his family in the UK and friends and colleagues in New Zealand are overwhelmed by the 'love and support” from the local community.

'I wish that David could see this, how many people have come together to look for him. He would be blown away. He was so loved. He has touched so many hearts. We are all hurting, and we just want to find him. David is such a caring person - I know that if someone else went missing, he would be the first out looking.”

Bay of Plenty Police led the operation with search and rescue volunteers, along with members of the public who joined Holland's friends in support.

Holland was last heard from on Friday, March 11. Friends believe he was planning a swim close to home near the end of Pacific View Road, where there is access to Pāpāmoa Beach.

Khabitueva says Holland sent a text saying that he was going for a swim and that he was last seen that evening on CCTV cameras close to the beach area, wearing beige pants, a dark top and cap.

She's holding out hope.

The couple met in Tauranga where Khabitueva also lives and works. They had been in a relationship for almost a year and parted amicably in January, and remained friends who regularly talked. Khabitueva said everyone hoped that today's search would bring some answers - and comfort.

'I just want closure. The terrible thing is not knowing what has happened. It is heartbreaking. The anxiety of not knowing is the worst thing I have ever had to cope with in my life. The person I long to talk about it is David. I keep looking at my phone, expecting a message or looking around to see if he is there.”

Holland, from Swansea in Wales, studied medicine in London. He is a junior anaesthetist, and has been completing his anaesthetist training at Tauranga Hospital.

He previously lived in Wellington and Christchurch before settling in the Bay of Plenty. He shares a house with friends in Pāpāmoa.

Khabitueva describes Holland as an experienced swimmer, scuba diver and loved free-diving off the Bay of Plenty coast. He had just completed training to be a rescue diver.

'He loves the ocean. He surfed, swam, snorkelling and loves going diving. He is so fit and active. We went on hikes together around here and in the Coromandel. We went on runs and races together. He cycled the length of New Zealand, proudly wearing his Welsh colours.”

She also describes him as 'extremely caring and generous with a big heart”.

'He is a great listener and supports many people. He is sensitive and cares about people's wellbeing and mental health, noticing if something is wrong. He's very social with a goofy sense of humour, often joking and making people laugh. He also loves to debate - he has a strong moral compass and is not afraid to speak up and share his opinions. He loves animals too and is a vegan.”

Friends of the doctor have already spent time on the beach and the dunes close to Pacific View Road, searching for any kind of clue that might help.

Police thanked the local community for their ongoing help.

"We'd like to thank staff from Surf Life Saving NZ and Coastguard as well as numerous volunteers who have assisted so far," says a spokesperson.

"We are still asking to hear from anyone who might have seen David on the evening of Friday, March 11, especially on or around the beach."

Anyone who can help is asked to call 105, quoting file number 220312/6869.

-Stuff/Annemarie Quill.