Two men who ran from the police now need their help after becoming lost in the bush.

Search teams found clothing and an area where a fire had recently been lit, but still no sign of the two who led police on a chase before becoming lost in the bush.

Five search teams, including two search and rescue dogs, have been searching the Tongariro National Park, previously reported by police as the Kaimanawa Forest.

The men are believed to be missing at the far eastern edge of the Tongariro National Park.

Bay of Plenty Operations Manager Inspector Kevin Taylor said the search will continue today until it is too dark and then the situation will be reassessed.

The search area is in very dense bush which is very hard to push through, he said.

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.

"The longer these young men are out there ill-prepared in a bush environment with adverse weather conditions the less likely it is there will be a successful outcome."

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.

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.

Conditions overnight have been very cold and wet, Taylor said. It is likely both of them will be suffering from hypothermia, he said.

Police Search and Rescue teams and a dog unit returned to the bush on Monday and a helicopter will continue searching when weather allows.

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