Police have suspended their search for missing five-year-old Jack Dixon, 10 days after he went missing.
Western Bay police Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said an extensive search on both foreshore and the sea had failed so far to find any trace of Jack since he was swept into the sea from Shelly Beach at the base of Mount Maunganui.
Police had nothing but praise for the community support shown to the family and for the professionals and volunteers who had been involved in the search over the last 10 days.
The search for Jack has been a difficult one hampered by weather and sea conditions, he said.
"The decision to suspend the search was a difficult one but had been made in consultation with the family; everyone has done everything that they could to find Jack and return him to his family,'' Mr Wright-St Clair said.