Police and Navy continue search for Whangārei man missing off Patāua South coast

A member of the public found one of the people who were missing from Patāua on Saturday morning. Photo / Peter Plaistowe

The Royal New Zealand Navy has joined the large-scale search for the second Whangārei fisherman missing since heading out on a boat four days ago.

A search was launched about 9pm on Friday after the man and a younger family member failed to return home that day from a fishing trip off the coast of Patāua South, Whangārei Heads.

The body of the younger male was found in the water at Parauwanui Beach in Patāua North on Saturday morning by a member of the public on a jetski.

Earlier that day, the 17-foot runabout the pair had gone out on was found drifting, reportedly near the Hen and Chicken Islands, with no one aboard.

Search and rescue crews, including the Police Dive Squad, and volunteers from Coastguard Tutukākā, Coastguard Whangārei, and the Northland Coastguard Air Patrol spent the weekend trying to locate the second man.

The search continued this morning with the added help of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Detective Sergeant Paul Overton said crews were focused on bringing the missing man home to his whānau.

“A large-scale search by sea and air is ongoing, along with searches of the shoreline.”

Overton thanked the agencies involved, as well as members of the public who “have been nothing short of generous with their time and support”.

A rāhui has been placed on the east coast from Paparoa/Tutukākā to south of Waipu Cove, and including Whangārei Harbour. Swimming, fishing and seafood gathering is prohibited.

Overton asked the public to contact police via 111 if they see anything unusual in the water.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.