Police name missing kayaker, believed drowned

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Police have released the name of the Gisborne man who is missing, believed drowned, after Monday night's kayaking tragedy at Pouawa.

He is 25-year-old Jesse Laki Tamatea, who was camping at the beach.

Fellow campers in the Pouawa area have expressed shock and sadness at the tragedy, as well as praising the efforts of a man who went to assist.

The police national dive squad joined the search for Mr Tamatea yesterday morning.

The divers, with a surf club IRB, continued the search without success, until about 3pm when conditions became too difficult.

"It was called off then because sea conditions were too rough for the divers to continue," said search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Greg Lexmond.

"It resumed this morning, along with shoreline searches."

Mr Tamatea had been camping at the beach with his partner's family.

Other Pouawa campers are "shocked and saddened".

"We are upset for the missing man's family," one woman said.

But they expressed admiration for the actions of one of their own in rescuing one of those in trouble.

An 82-year-old camper raced out in his 12-foot aluminium dinghy to rescue a young woman who was also in difficulties.

"It was blowing a gale when it happened, with about an 18-inch chop on the water," one witness said.

The rescuer reacted to the emergency as soon as the alarm was sounded by people on shore.

Two long-time mates of the 82-year-old sat down over a beer with him on Monday night after the tragic event.

They and the rescuer wish to remain anonymous.

"He reacted really, really well," one of them said.

"He told us he didn't know what to expect - he just charged out there in his boat."

The man picked up Mr Tamatea's partner from their kayaks about 600 metres offshore, then looked around for her partner.

"He saw him still on the surface some distance away and steered his boat in that direction.

"He told us he got to within 10 feet of the man, then Mr Tamatea slipped under the water.

"It was a horrible situation," the men said.

"Our friend is quite upset about it and it will take a bit of getting over."

Long-time Pouawa camper, District Council emergency manager Richard Steele, said fellow campers had been subdued since Monday's events.

"It's had quite an impact on us, with some of the children really upset.

"It has been a really bad end to the holiday for us."

Mr Steele said people had been talking about the need to wear lifejackets.

"They have also been talking about the dangers of going out to sea when it's so windy."

Another camper said she and her family had found it "surreal", hard to believe it could happen right in front of them.