A TASMANIAN man at the centre of a two-day missing persons operation in New Zealand has been found drinking in a bar and oblivious to the search.

Michael Craig, known as Mick, had been last seen on security footage stumbling out of a South Island pub in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Mr Craig, who is in New Zealand for a fishing trip, was finally located at another bar, in nearby Christchurch, yesterday night unaware of any concern over his disappearance.

Police had ramped up efforts to find the 45-year-old, saying there was mounting concern for his safety and going so far as to check waterways and investigate whether his bank accounts had been accessed.