Police will resume their search today for a man missing off the coast of Pataua South, after an overnight pause brought on by darkness.
The man was one of two people aboard a boat reported overdue on Friday night. The vessel was found adrift on Saturday morning with no one on board, and the body of one of the pair was discovered in the water shortly afterwards.
A full-scale search has been running ever since, involving the Police Dive Squad, Search and Rescue teams, and volunteers from Coastguard Tūtūkākā and Coastguard Whangārei. Despite an intensive effort throughout the day, the second man has not been located. Detective Sergeant Paul Overton said LandSAR and Coastguard teams were stood down this evening, while the Dive Squad worked until last light
The dive team will restart operations at first light today.
Overton thanked both the search agencies and the local community, who he said had shown remarkable kindness.
“People have been bringing us food and supporting the families—it’s been really humbling,” he said. Police are urging anyone who sees anything unusual in the water to call 111 immediately.
