The mother of one of three missing New Zealand men in tsunami-hit Indonesia says their families are keeping positive.
David Machin, Ben Gavin-Young and Ryan Irissarri, from Kerikeri, have not made contact since October 25.
They are understood to be sailing a boat, called the Fat Cat, towards the Mentawai Islands.
Joanie Irissarri said today she was optimistic her son Ryan and his two friends were safe.
"We're pretty positive they were more than likely further north than where the tsunami hit. We just haven't heard from them...," she said.
On Faceboook, Mr Gavin-Young last left a message on July 9: "Time 2 gt (get) away from civilisation 4 (for) 5 months and get real feral on Sumatra's West Coast".
Meanwhile the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade today said the family of one of the men contacted the New Zealand embassy, in Jakarta, on October 27 due to their concerns.
"Family have advised that typically the young men only make contact with family and friends while in port, which has tended to be every two to three weeks," a spokeswoman said.
The embassy had been in regular contact with the Indonesian National Search and Rescue office in Padang.
The location of the yacht and its route remained unknown, she added.
Earlier, a New Zealand embassy spokesman told the Jakarta Globe a woman had contacted authorities concerned about her son and two other men, who had not made contact since the day of the disaster.
Aim Zein, chairman of West Sumatra Boat Charters Association, which is helping with relief operations, told NZPA an email from Ms Irissarri looking for her son landed on the group's mailing list.
Two French nationals and a United States national were also reported missing.
The 7.7 magnitude Indonesian earthquake and tsunami has claimed the lives of at least 431 people.
