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

Missing Pāpāmoa doctor David Holland: Employer speaks of 'distressing time' for colleagues

Sandra Conchie
By Sandra Conchie
Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times·Bay of Plenty Times·
24 Mar, 2022 06:00 PM5 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

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Tauranga doctor David Holland was reported missing on March 11. Photo / Supplied

Tauranga doctor David Holland was reported missing on March 11. Photo / Supplied

The mother and brother of a Pāpāmoa doctor missing for two weeks have flown from Wales to join the search.

And the employer of David Holland says the outpouring of concern for him shows how valued and loved he is.

Holland, 31, from Pāpāmoa, has been missing since March 11 after telling friends he was going for a swim near the end of Pacific View Rd in Pāpāmoa.

Fears were raised when he failed to turn up to work at Tauranga Hospital and police said it was unlike him.

Speaking to Wales Online, his mother, Karen Holland said she still hoped he would be found.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She has flown to New Zealand with her son Rhodri and they have met up with Holland's girlfriend.

"We still hope that he will be found safe and well. The authorities are continuing their search. Others enquiries are ongoing. These could take several weeks, if not longer.

"We would just like to thank everyone for their messages of support at this heartbreaking time and to everyone who has contributed to the fund, it's been truly overwhelming."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Pete Chandler. Photo / NZME
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Pete Chandler. Photo / NZME

Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief executive Pete Chandler said his heart went out to Holland's family, his friends and colleagues during this "distressing time".

"David is a highly valued member of the hospital's theatre team, and he's a friend as well as a work colleague to many in the team.

Discover more

Tourism

Tourism minister on cruise ships: 'I'd love to see them back'

24 Mar 12:00 AM
Kahu

Otago Medical School's first wahine Māori dean shares her vision

27 Mar 05:00 PM
Politics

National tries to avoid repeating mistakes in Tauranga

23 Mar 09:18 PM
Opinion

Letters: Russia's genocidal assault

24 Mar 04:00 PM

"David is a junior anaesthetist with us at Tauranga Hospital, where he is completing his anaesthetist training, and the outpouring of concern for him is a mark of the affection in which he is held by everyone who knows him," he said.

"While the search goes on we've trying to support David's colleagues in the work environment as best we can as understandably many are deeply upset he is missing.

"I went to see our theatre team on Tuesday and all of them were talking about David and how valued and loved he is. We all expected that within a couple of days or so he would have been located, but of course, that has not been the case.

"Our thoughts and aroha are very much with David's family. His disappearance is just awful and our wellbeing team has been in touch with his family to offer our support.

"Staff members have taken part in the searches in and around the Pāpāmoa Beach area where David went missing, and we know this is a frustrating and upsetting time for all concerned as so many questions remain unanswered.

"As the search for David continues we pray for a positive outcome, and we are asking our staff members to look out for their work colleagues and to check in with them on how they're doing. Support is available for them if they need it."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Police believe Holland was last seen wearing a black jacket, striped T-shirt, long drawstring pants, size 11 shoes and carrying a black tote bag.

Hundreds of people have been involved in searches for his whereabouts.

He is originally from Wales and his mother and brother have travelled from Swansea to New Zealand to help search for their loved one.

On March 19 the Tauranga Police Search and Rescue team conducted a ground search for Holland concentrated on the sand dunes between Karewa Pde and Ocean Beach Rd.

The searchers included 148 volunteers but no relevant items were found, the police earlier said.

Rotorua Land Search & Rescue Mount Maunganui, Omanu and Pāpāmoa Surf Life Saving clubs, Tauranga Coastguard and Coastguard Air Patrol have also conducted searches.

Matt Shand, who became friends with Holland through playing ultimate frisbee in the past two years, described him as a "caring person" and a "lovely soul".

Shand said Holland was an "adventurous person", a keen cyclist and outdoorsman and was also known for going swimming alone.

He said the "hardest thing" was not knowing whether his friend was okay.

"We're all waiting for some news and hoping David will be found safe and well."

Shand urged anyone with any information about his whereabouts to contact the police.

A Go Fund Me page created to ease his family's financial worries during their time in New Zealand has raised more than $28,000.

Page creator Dean Ella wrote: "David is a wonderful person. His friends, family and colleagues love him for being kind-hearted, endlessly thoughtful and funny."

Ella also described him as active and outdoorsy and a keen cyclist, swimmer, hiker, ultimate frisbee player and an excellent swing dancer.

"It is due to this warm, open, adventurous personality that David has friends from all over the world and all walks of life that are looking for ways to help."

In a response to the Bay of Plenty Times' request for further details about the progress of the investigation, a police spokesperson said: "Police acknowledge the continued public interest in the investigation into the disappearance of Dr David Holland.

"The continued interest and offers of assistance from members of the public speaks to the high regard in which David is held in the community.

"Police will continue to explore any new information we receive about David's whereabouts, and we hope to be able to provide answers for David's family.

"At this time Police are not seeking volunteers to assist with further searches.

Police would "proactively release further information when it is available".

Anyone with any information that could help police locate David should call 105 and quote file number 220312/6869.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
New Zealand

Magic man: Meet the one psychiatrist approved to prescribe magic mushrooms

18 Jun 07:09 AM
New Zealand

Police use drone in search for missing woman in Christchurch

18 Jun 07:00 AM
New ZealandUpdated

'Angel of a fireman': 87kg St Bernard saved by sandwich in house fire tragedy

18 Jun 07:00 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Magic man: Meet the one psychiatrist approved to prescribe magic mushrooms

Magic man: Meet the one psychiatrist approved to prescribe magic mushrooms

18 Jun 07:09 AM

Minister David Seymour says no 'reefer madness' over psilocybin because it works.

Police use drone in search for missing woman in Christchurch

Police use drone in search for missing woman in Christchurch

18 Jun 07:00 AM
'Angel of a fireman': 87kg St Bernard saved by sandwich in house fire tragedy

'Angel of a fireman': 87kg St Bernard saved by sandwich in house fire tragedy

18 Jun 07:00 AM
Woman's 'unexplained' death in hospital was unrelated to assault days earlier

Woman's 'unexplained' death in hospital was unrelated to assault days earlier

18 Jun 06:56 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

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