Nina search: Independent review commissioned

The classic American schooner Nina under sail, owned by David Dyche III, is missing en route from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand to Newcastle.

An independent review of the search for the missing yacht Nina and its six occupants has been commissioned by Maritime New Zealand.

It is being carried out by a master mariner and former manager of search and rescue for the Australia Maritime Safety Authority.

The Nina, which set off from the Bay of Islands in May, was heading for New South Wales when it lost contact in rough weather.

The last contact from anyone on board was a text message on June 4.

An extensive search by authorities in New Zealand and Australia failed to locate the missing yacht - and since then families of those on board have been fundraising for private searches and carrying them out themselves.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) spokesman Steve Rendle said director Keith Manch made the decision in December to commission the review because of the complexity of the search and large amount of public interest in the case.

``There were Australian and US agencies (involved in the search), in this case there was quite a lot of engagement with the families and it's good to get an independent view into how that was carried out.''

There was no particular event that prompted the review, he said.

The reviewer was inviting input from Nina family members and, allowing for this, the review might not be finalised and made public until the middle of the year.

The outcome of the inquiry would involve an assessment of how the search was undertaken and recommendations for any ways of doing things differently in the future, Mr Rendle said.

Previous independent reviews were carried out of the search for the South African yacht Tafadzwa, which was reported missing off the east coast in 2010, and the search for Michael Erceg's helicopter, which crashed in 2005.

The parents of one of Nina's occupants, 19-year-old Danielle Wright, have never given up the search for their daughter and could soon be in New Zealand in another bid.

Robin and Ricky Wright have taken part in extensive aerial searches focused around the area east of Australia.

In a Facebook post earlier this month they said they had discussed coming to New Zealand with the parents of another missing Nina crew member.

Extending their search area was also being considered.

Mr Wright has obtained his pilot's licence to help with the search efforts.

- additional reporting Teuila Fuatai