Police and volunteers continuing their search for two men at Tongariro National Park and Kaimanawa Forest Park

A search for the two men lost in the Tongariro National Park after a police chase has resumed.

Volunteers from as far as Tauranga and Whanganui have joined the search for the two men, who are believed to be missing near the border with the Kaimanawa Forest since Saturday.

Bay of Plenty operations manager inspector Kevin Taylor said the pair would now be in a very serious condition, and likely hypothermic.

ROBERT STEVEN/STUFF Search teams gather on Tuesday morning to begin another day of searching.

"If the two individuals are in a condition where they're not responsive, they will only be found once a searcher is in their immediate vicinity.

READ MORE: Two men lost in Tongariro National Park call for help after police chase

"The longer these young men remain in these conditions, the less likely it is that they will survive."

ROBERT STEVEN/STUFF Volunteers from as far as Tauranga and Whanganui have joined the search for the two men believed to be missing in the Tongariro National Park.

The search effort will focus on the area surrounding a recently lit fire and clothing, found on Monday.

The fire was most likely lit on Saturday.

A helicopter will not assist in the search due to weather conditions.

ROBERT STEVEN/STUFF One of the search teams is focusing their efforts on this track.

The two men, aged in their 20s, are believed to be the same two individuals who fled police in a stolen car on Saturday. Police attempted to stop a stolen car at 3pm on Saturday, before the driver fled at speed north on the Desert Road.

The car was eventually abandoned on a track off Tree Trunk Gorge Rd, off the Desert Road. The driver and passenger ran off into the bush.

On Sunday morning one of the men called 111 for help.

The focus then changed to a search and rescue operation to help the men.

The caller only had two percent phone battery left when he rang, so police only had minimal details on their location.

On Monday, Nat Every, pilot and base manager for Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, said it would be very unpleasant in there.

"[It's] cold, wet and they were not prepared to be outdoors in that environment," he said.

"There is a very dedicated crew working extremely hard to locate and assist them, and we are on standby to assist if the weather allows."

Police from the Bay of Plenty district and a helicopter searched the area until 11pm on Sunday night but could not locate the men.

They were now seriously concerned for their welfare considering their lack of experience in the bush and inappropriate clothing they have on them.

Anyone in the area is asked to contact police immediately if they see, or have seen, two men in the area.