Rahui on east coast where diver's body found

Tangata whenua in the Ti Point area, northeast of Warkworth, have placed a rahui on the coast where the body of a missing diver washed ashore yesterday morning.

The rahui, a sign of respect and acknowledgment that an area is tapu following a death, prohibits the gathering of fish and shellfish and has been called for the area from Ti Point to Takatu Point.

The body of the 34-year-old man was found on Omaha Beach, 16km northeast of Warkworth.

His name had not been made public last night because relatives were still being informed of his death. Police said he was not from Auckland.

The man went missing during bad weather on Monday afternoon. He went into the sea at 1.15pm, about 50m offshore from Ti Point at Omaha Beach.

When he failed to join his companion onshore an hour later, a small group of friends and locals began to look for him.

A larger search was soon called, but was hampered by heavy rain, 3m swells and wind speeds up to 35 knots.

- NZPA

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