Family of missing Ōpōtiki fisherman appeals for public's help

Police are currently searching for Jason Kauta who failed to return from a fishing trip over the weekend. Photos / Supplied, Tourism Eastland

The family of an Ōpōtiki fisherman is appealing for help from the public to find him after he failed to return from a trip over the weekend.

Jason Kauta went out fishing by boat from Torere around 7am on Sunday morning.

His niece, Mia van den Broek, is asking the public for contacts of people who go fishing from the Opotiki to Te Kaha region and may have seen a 12ft fibreglass dingy.

Kauta is described as around 1.8m tall and has a whānau name "Wharekino" written on his right arm on the inside of his tā moko.

Jason Kauta is described as around 1.8m tall. Photo / Supplied

Van den Broek said her uncle is believed to have been in the Opape, Torere region. However, she said he could have been towards Opotiki or Te Kaha areas if not further out towards Maketu or Cape Reinga.

Coastguard volunteers from Opotiki, Whakatane and Maketu resumed a search at sea in the Torere area this morning, and an RNZAF Orion also searched from the air.

In a statement this evening, police said marine searching had ceased for the day and the weather forecast was not looking favourable for tomorrow.

The Air Force crew was also nearing the completion of their search without success.

Police said an assessment will now be undertaken of the search thus far.

"Any further action will be dependent on the assessment and on the weather
over the coming days."

"Police continue to ask that members of the public who may be on the shoreline from Torere through to Maketu today to be vigilant and report any sighting of the following items of interest."

Those items are a 100-litre white chilly bin, a red tote tank, wooden oars and a yellow lifejacket.

Anyone who comes across any of these items is asked to contact Police on 105, quoting file number 220418/0391.