Minister orders probe into fishing tragedy

The Search and Rescue Council is to investigate Sunday's boating tragedy off the North Otago coast.

One man died and two are missing, presumed drowned, after their boat was swamped about 10am. Two other crew members were rescued about 1pm and questions have been raised over how long that took.

Transport Minister Paul Swain said yesterday that the newly formed council would get an independent investigator to establish what had happened, who was responsible and whether current procedures were adequate.

The report is expected to take about two months.

The council investigation would be in addition to the Maritime Safety Authority's accident investigation and standard reviews of internal processes by the National Rescue Co-ordination Centre and police.

"This has been a tragic loss of life," Mr Swain said.

"My thoughts are with these people's families and friends at this time."

Richard Graham Wallis, 63, was killed in the incident and his brother Keith Wallis, 62, of Dunedin, and Tainui Pompey Kani, 42, of Timaru, are missing.

The survivors were Phillip Edwards, 44, of Timaru, and Ian Anderson, 43, of Oamaru.

It appeared the men's boat had taken on water after a fishing line caught in the propeller.

A timeline of events shows the boat's emergency beacon was activated at 10.15am, but it was not until 11.20am that a satellite could pinpoint the beacon off Kakanui Pt.

At 12.10pm, a Dunedin-based rescue helicopter was sent to search for the boat and its crew, finding the two survivors and the dead man.

A North Otago helicopter pilot, John Oakes, who has more than 14 years' search and rescue experience, said he was "absolutely appalled" at the way local operators were shut out of the rescue.

When the boat went down he was 10 minutes - about 16 nautical miles - away, but by the time he found out the location and flew there it was too late.

There was only drifting debris.

Mr Oakes said locals could have quickly got a search under way if the National Rescue Co-ordination Council in Wellington had notified them after the beacon went off.

Otago MP David Parker said he had sent letters to the Maritime Safety Authority and Transport Minister Paul Swain demanding answers about the delay in responding to the emergency.

Police acting Southern District Commander Terry Richardson said the rescue operation was under the control of the NRCC, not the police.

"The operation will be subject to coroner's inquest in due course, and it is in this forum that police will present relevant information after appropriate investigation."

North Otago Search and Rescue chairman John McLennan said the missing men were probably dead, and the search, which was scaled back yesterday, would be reviewed hourly.


- NZPA