Joseph Walter Woods went missing in Christchurch — found 360kms away in Dunedin

A MAN reported missing from his New Zealand home three weeks ago has been found and is thought to have walked 360km. It’s not his first “big walk”.

Found 360 kilometres from home ... Joseph Walter Woods, 41, went missing from his Christchurch home and was found in Dunedin in New Zealand. Picture: New Zealand Police

JOSEPH Walter Woods is gaining notoriety for taking long walks.

Woods, 41, was reported missing by his family from his home at Hoon Hay on the outskirts of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, on February 11.

He was seen leaving with just a rubbish bag and a backpack and spotted on foot nine days later near Hanging Rock, inland from Timaru, which is 165km away from his home.

Woods, was not seen again until late last night, when he found in the city of Dunedin, which is 360km from his home.

“It is unclear at this stage how he got to Dunedin since the last confirmed sighting of him in Geraldine,” Mid-South Canterbury Police area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said.

“If he’s walked that far, he’s a good walker,” said Insp Gaskin, noting that there had been no reports of him hitchhiking.

Woods went missing for three weeks around the same time last year before being found having walked almost 200km in thongs to near Makikihi, south of Timaru,

When found late last night by police officers in Dunedin, Woods said that he “wanted to come visit Waimate”, which is north of Dunedin.

Woods was being assessed by medical experts before being reunited with his family today.

Police thanked the public for reporting sightings of Woods.