Specialist police dog and handler in for search

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A full-scale search began at first light this morning for missing Tolaga Bay woman Jamie Kaiwai and police have now received information she was seen on the beach near the wharf on Friday night.

The 27-year-old’s car was found with the keys in it at the Tolaga Bay wharf carpark last Sunday morning.

“We have heard from a witness who was 100 percent certain he saw Jamie on the beach by the wharf between 8pm and 9pm on Friday night,” said search coordinator Sergeant Greg Lexmond.

“That’s why we have been concentrating our efforts in that area.”

About 20 Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers, including some from Wairoa, police, and surf lifeguards have joined the search today.

“We will also have a fixed wing aircraft up at low tide later today to sweep the coastline, and out to sea.

“The Tolaga Bay surf lifesaving club, the Character Roofing emergency callout lifeguard squad IRBs are involved, and we have a specialist police search dog and handler here from Wellington,” Sergeant Lexmond said.

“Jamie’s family members are also involved in the search, and they are getting lots of support from their friends.”

The search was being coordinated from the Fire and Emergency NZ command vehicle from Gisborne that has been set up in the wharf carpark.

He said the swells had dropped off considerably and search conditions were good.

“There would be less than half-a-metre of surf now on the beach.

“But there is a considerable amount of debris washed up, including more logs — lots of them.

“We are throwing everything at the search today, and depending of course on the outcome today, I expect we will be back here again with the same sort of effort tomorrow,” Sergeant Lexmond said.

“We are doing all we can to provide the closure to this apparent tragedy that’s Jamie’s anxious family are hoping for.

“We are assuming the worst, and hoping for the best.”