Search continues for person missing near Cape Rēinga after fall from rocks

Northland Coastguard will continue their search today for a person who fell from the rocks off Cape Rēinga.

Police will today continue their search for a missing man near Cape Rēinga.

Emergency services were called about 3.20pm yesterday after the man fell from rocks while fishing at the remote Tapotupotu Bay with friends, police said this morning.

Northland Police search and rescue team leader, Detective Sergeant Paul Overton, said Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched immediately.

He says police crews, alongside Search and Rescue, Coastguard Air Patrol, Customs, Surf Lifesaving and Northern Rescue Helicopter searched the area until dark.

“This is a particularly remote area and crews searched into the night, however the man was not located.

“Our crews will head back out on the water this morning to continue the search,” Overton said.

“I would like to thank all the agencies that have been involved in the search so far, as well as the locals in the area who have made themselves available to assist – it’s very appreciated.”

A spokesperson from Northland Coastguard said their volunteers were supporting police and would be providing aerial support today.

“As the second major water incident in the Northland region in a week, our thoughts are with the missing person’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter daily mission report said a thorough grid search was conducted with the help of the Northland Rescue Helicopter.

In a separate incident, a man is still missing after two people disappeared from a boat off a Northland coastline on November 15.

Overton said a member of the public spotted the boat, and Coastguard Air Patrol quickly attended to confirm it was the missing boat before Coastguard towed it back to shore.

However, nobody was on board.

Another member of the public found one of the people who was missing in the water. They were deceased, police said.

Overton said the member of the public stayed with the person’s body until it could be recovered.

Police said community members had put out a call to vessels in Pataua Harbour and Ngunguru Bay to report sightings of the boat, described as a runabout.

A community Facebook page said the two people on the boat were male and set off from Pataua.