Wellington  - A search and rescue operation was launched Thursday in New Zealand's Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park for a Malaysian tourist after he failed to return from a hike the previous day.

Police said Kok Wong, 32, who was lightly clad, had not been seen since Wednesday afternoon when he set out to walk in two low-altitude areas of the South Island park he said he wanted to explore.

A search party of nearly 20 people and a helicopter found no trace of him and police said the search would resume at dawn Friday.

There were concerns for his safety because weather conditions were foggy and were expected to worsen Friday.

Constable Brent Swanson of Lake Tekapo told the Timaru Herald that the tourist had been staying at the youth hostel in Mount Cook village. His bags were still in his room and his bed was not slept in on Wednesday night. (dpa)