NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Alex Fisher tragedy - Acquaintance of accused: I 'convinced him to walk out'

John Weekes
By John Weekes, John Weekes, Alecia Rousseau of the Manawatu Guardian
Senior Business Reporter·Other·
9 Oct, 2015 02:56 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

An acquaintance of the man arrested during the search for 10-year-old Alex Fisher has told how he convinced the accused to walk out of the forest where police were searching for the boy.

READ MORE
• New leads from post-mortem

• Police building picture of what happened to
Alex

The arrested man has interim name suppression after being charged with possession of a knife.

The acquaintance, a Waitarere Beach resident, told the Herald he was alerted to Alex's disappearance by a friend early on Tuesday morning.

He immediately knew something was wrong and decided to go looking in Waitarere Forest.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I was the one who found [the man] and convinced him to walk out," the resident said.

Police confirmed the acquaintance was present when they arrested the man but were still trying to verify other details.

They have interviewed him and are expected to talk to him again.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The acquaintance said there was "more to the story" but he could not comment any further.

He did not want to "tread on the family's toes" or obstruct the court process.

He also said he had been offered money by another media organisation to tell his story.

The arrested man, who lives in the region, appeared before Levin District Court on Wednesday charged with carrying a knife on Forest Rd.

Discover more

New Zealand|crime

Police release images in search for missing boy

07 Oct 12:18 AM
New Zealand|crime

Photo released of missing boy

07 Oct 03:56 AM
New Zealand

Neighbour: 'He's just a normal happy boy'

08 Oct 12:17 AM
New Zealand

Body found in search for Alex

08 Oct 02:24 AM

That's in the area where the search for Alex was focused.

He was remanded in custody by consent until next Wednesday.

The court heard he is likely to face at least one further unspecified charge.

'We are devastated by the sudden loss'

The family of Alex Fisher have expressed their gratitude to the Waiterere community for all the help offered during the search for the 10-year-old boy.

"As you can imagine, we are devastated by the sudden loss of a beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, classmate, friend, and fellow Scout."

The statement shared on behalf of the family today went on to thank those involved in the search for Alex and for the donations of "food, money, time and prayers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It is really appreciated and shown the family how terrific our local community and country as a whole really is," the family said.

"The Fisher family have a long association with Waitarere Beach, Alex's grandmother lived there for over 27 years.

"The family have had many lovely and memorable occasions at the beach."

The family said no further comments would be made and again requested privacy.

READ MORE: Tragedy of Alex Fisher - Discovery of boy's body in sand dunes nightmare for family

A vigil for Alex will be held on the beach this Sunday at 7pm.

A blessing is taking place on the beach where the body of 10-year-old Alex Fisher was found yesterday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Twenty people, including kaumatua and several police officers, are now standing on the dunes and paying their respects, with heads down.

Maori elders and Manawatu area commander Inspector Sarah Stewart have just arrived outside the Rua Ave house near the place Alex was found to perform a blessing.

Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said a traumatic incident team was at Alex's school yesterday, and met with staff today to ensure they felt confident to support children when they returned to school on Monday. The team would be back at the school on Monday if required.

'Whenever a school experiences a distressing incident, of whatever kind, we offer the support of a traumatic incident team that goes into the school to offer whatever help is needed.

"The team's role is to help the school return to its normal day to day routines.

The team talk to staff, the principal and board members. They brief staff on how students may respond to this difficult event and how to get access to additional specialist psychological support if it's needed for any individual students or staff members. That support is there for as long as a school needs it."

The ministry could provide extra resources to support the school if needed.

"This could include relief staff who work alongside teachers or take on duties that will free up school staff to support and respond to the needs of the children."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: New Zealand must move on from Ardern criticism to get real benefit from Covid inquiry

11 Jul 09:00 PM
Premium
Auckland

Woman awarded $500k after deceitful sale of rotting Auckland house

11 Jul 08:14 PM
live
New Zealand

Up to 50 people evacuated from homes after wild weather, clean-up begins

11 Jul 08:08 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Woman awarded $500k after deceitful sale of rotting Auckland house

Woman awarded $500k after deceitful sale of rotting Auckland house

11 Jul 08:14 PM

One defendant used a dehumidifier to falsely claim the house was dry.

Up to 50 people evacuated from homes after wild weather, clean-up begins
live

Up to 50 people evacuated from homes after wild weather, clean-up begins

11 Jul 08:08 PM
Rain hits NZ, Trump in Texas, more children bombed in Gaza | NZ Herald News Update: July 12, 2025

Rain hits NZ, Trump in Texas, more children bombed in Gaza | NZ Herald News Update: July 12, 2025

'The public have a right to know': Judge denies man with cache of child abuse files anonymity

'The public have a right to know': Judge denies man with cache of child abuse files anonymity

11 Jul 07:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP