Nearly three weeks since five-year-old boy Jack Dixon was swept away by a rogue wave at Mount Maunganui, his parents share their grief in an appeal for people to still help look for him.
His parents Wayne Dixon and Karen Spargo have issued a statement, expressing the toll Jack's disappearance has taken on his family who were with him when he went missing on October 1.
"Not a day goes by where we aren't looking for our precious boy Jack, and we miss him terribly, and we'd like to take this opportunity to share with you all our favourite photo of him,'' Jack's parents said.
''Thank you once again to all who have, and who continue to support us during this tough time. To date, the support from family, friends and the wider community has helped us to survive these last 18 days, and all we ask is that you continue to be there for us, and that you continue to help us try and find our boy.''
A massive search and rescue effort involving hundreds of volunteers went into finding Jack, who was swept into the sea from Mauao's Shelly Beach, but he has not been found since.
''Our thoughts are also with the families going through the similar experience as ours right now."