Friends of a missing French tourist, last seen paddling an inflatable kayak on Lake Rotorua on Monday, have pleaded with the public to help find him.

Police said yesterday that an inflatable kayak matching a description of the one used by the man had been found.

Police identified the missing man as a tourist from France and have previously released a photograph of him, but have not released his name.

Police told the Rotorua Daily Post they needed to ensure any identity was confirmed before it was released.

The missing man was using a black and yellow inflatable kayak and wore a dark-green jacket. Photo / Supplied

Several of the man's friends, also visitors to New Zealand, have issued public pleas on social media, asking for the public's help in the search.

Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post on Tuesday, Théo Bouteiller said he became friends with the man after the two met in Auckland.

Coastguard at the Rotorua Lakefront on Tuesday morning. Photo / Ben Fraser

He understood the man arrived in New Zealand from Montpellier, France last month with plans to stay for a year.

"We've been working in Te Puke and Pāpāmoa."

Bouteiller said they had been working as fruit pickers and travelling around the country.

He said his friend was last seen wearing a bright hoodie with "Periples" written on the front, under a dark jacket. "Periples" is the French word for journeys.