Search for fisherman in Tukituki River halts for night in Hawke's Bay

A land search and rescue party of at least 20 people was assembled early this afternoon at the Tennants Rd Reserve. Photo / Ian Cooper

Search and Rescue has ceased operations in a Hawke's Bay river for the night, more than 20 hours after the disappearance of a 75-year-old fisherman.

The search was suspended about 6pm and is expected to resume about 8-8.30am.

Police say the man, who was not from Hawke's Bay, had been fly-fishing in the Tukituki River at Haumoana but failed to return to his accommodation by dark on Saturday.

No trace of him had been found in overnight searches, including the use of a helicopter with infrared technology which continued until about 3am on Sunday.

The man's vehicle was found parked near the river and removed on Sunday, and police were attempting to contact his next-of-kin.

The fine, sunny and still conditions of Saturday continued as police resumed ground and air searches about 7am on Sunday.

A helicopter continued low sweeps above the river till late morning, with the search concentrating on an area upstream of the Blackbridge Reserve to the Tennants Road Reserve.

A land search and rescue party of at least 20 people was assembled early on Sunday afternoon at the Tennants Rd Reserve, and a vehicle was removed from the area by truck, but there had still been no sign of the man by about 1.30pm.