Push to 'bring Jack back'

Jack Dixon was swept into the surf a week ago.

Surf lifesavers say return to training will help in search

Mt Maunganui surf lifesavers say they will keep looking for Jack Dixon "for as long as it takes" despite no sign of the missing boy for a week.

Nearly 2500 volunteer hours have already been logged in the search, which began at midday last Wednesday, with lifeguards from Papamoa and Omanu also involved.

The search time is nearly half of the just over 5000 patrol hours logged by Mt Maunganui lifeguard staff last summer.

Mt Maunganui senior surf lifesaving squad received clearance from local iwi to resume training on the water on Monday - after a rahui (a temporary ban of an area) was placed last week - and Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service chairman Paul Treanor said that was an important step.

"Having our squads resume training brings some normality back into the club but it also enables us to have more eyes out on the water, as we keep striving to bring Jack back to his family."

Senior lifeguards will perform sweeps of the water before younger members come through, while daily IRB and shoreline vehicle searches will also continue.

Police divers spent several hours in the water yesterday, and Sunair and the Tauranga Aero Club checked the entire Bay of Plenty coastline.

Surf club members have also been involved in looking for 37-year-old Stephen Michael Tracey, who hasn't been seen since September 27.

The Mount club is grateful for the support given by local businesses including Marra Construction owner Phil Marra who wrote a cheque for $2500 last week to help with the ongoing rescue costs, while Betta Electrical provided a freezer to help store the deluge of food brought in by the community.

Mr Treanor said the community response had been awe-inspiring and the outpouring of generosity and sentiment had humbled club members.

He stopped short, however, of labelling their actions "heroic", despite a wider public perception.

"All we've done over these last, long days is exactly what we train for."