I reckon he's still alive, says little Lucas' dad

Lucas Ward's father thinks searchers are wasting time combing Gisborne's waterways. Photo / Alan Gibson.

The father of missing 4-year-old Lucas Ward thinks his son is still alive, and that time is being wasted searching Gisborne's waterways.

Damon Ward said yesterday that police had updated him on the search, assuring the family that although it had been scaled back, it had not stopped.

"I just reckon he's alive, plain and simple. As a father ... I just don't feel like he's dead in my heart," he told Radio New Zealand.

"If we just concentrate on the river, we are wasting time and thought and energy and the notion and mentalness on him being in the river when he could very well be on land, which I believe he is."

The search for the preschooler enters its eighth day today and police have handed over the bulk of the hunt to the local Coastguard and surf lifesavers.

They spent about an hour searching city beaches at dawn yesterday.

Later, a jetboat was out on the Waimata River behind the Graham Rd home of Lucas' grandparents, from where the youngster disappeared a week ago today.

Two inflatable boats followed close behind, with searchers scanning the water.

The Coastguard will continue searching throughout the week.

Lucas' aunt Connie Tait told the Herald the family had not given up hope and were searching city beaches.

"There's about 20 of us. Some had to go back to work but those that can help are doing what they can."

Police have continued to follow up about four possible sightings of little boys fitting the description of Lucas on the day he vanished.

Meanwhile, Te Wharau School, which Lucas' 8-year-old brother Alex attends, is following the advice of a Ministry of Education trauma team. "There's a team based in Gisborne," said principal Steve Berezowski. "We're trying to keep it reasonably low key at the moment as there has been no solution."

He said Alex's teacher and the deputy principal had spoken to his class a couple of times about Lucas.

"It's more about getting the kids to talk rather than us talking to them - getting them to express their feelings."

Mr Berezowski said police had trawled through hours of footage from about three surveillance cameras by the school gates but saw no sign of the little boy. Flyers with a photo of Lucas and the police contact number had been given to all families.

Lucas' mother, Jessica Ward, has said her son could have followed a dog up the road, become lost and taken shelter somewhere.

Graham Rd resident Taan Suwanduang said the little boy was fond of her cat.

"He would come across the road to talk to me. He would hold on to the cat's tail, which [the cat] didn't like very much. He was a really chatty, happy little boy."

Another resident, Amanda Hooper, who lives on Turenne St, said police knocked on her door about 5.30pm last Tuesday to ask if she had seen Lucas.

She asked her 9-year-old son, who attends Te Wharau School with Lucas' brother, if he had seen him on his way home but he hadn't.

"The police asked us to check our backyards, look in sheds. We'd already had a look around the property ...

"It's so sad, such a horrible nightmare for parents."

The Help Find Lucas Ward Facebook page had more than 10,000 members yesterday.

POSSIBLE SIGHTINGS
All on Tuesday, August 17:

* 3.25pm: Two boys, aged 4 and 8, seen on the corner of Graham Rd and Marian Drive.

* 4.15pm-4.30pm: A young boy fitting the description of Lucas seen at Anzac Park.

* 4.15pm-4.30pm: A young boy fitting the description of Lucas seen walking along on The Esplanade.

* 5.30pm: A young boy who appeared to be yelling seen by a woman on the corner of Tui St and Kara St. The woman told search and rescue workers but police want her to contact them.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lucas is urged to call Gisborne police on (06) 869-0200.