Searchers defy tough conditions

A view across the northern side of the Hokianga. File Photo / The Listener

Family and friends of a Hokianga man missing for a week after going to set his fishing net will resume their search today in the hope Tangaroa, Maori god of the sea, will give up his body.

Darrel "Dally" Hamilton, 48, a father of three boys, has not been seen since he set his net on a tidal flat at Motukauri, on the northern side of Hokianga Harbour, east of Kohukohu, about 3am last Tuesday.

His partner told the Northern Advocate late yesterday the local community had been amazing in helping search for Mr Hamilton, despite difficult conditions. She said Mr Hamilton had set the net in the same area hundreds of times.

"The conditions have been dreadful, with some big waves, and it's cold, but people haven't stopped looking. It's difficult in the mud and the mangroves searching for him, and we are just so thankful for all the help and support," she said.

"We are waiting for the tide, then going out searching, then waiting for the next tide and going out searching. We are not going to stop looking and we just hope Tangaroa will give him back to us."

She said messages of support had been coming in from around the country and overseas.

Mr Hamilton was well liked.

A rahui has been placed on the area, stretching from Rangi Pt to Motukaraka, and will remain in place until Mr Hamilton is found.

"We've had people on shore and on the water looking and we'll be back out (today).

"It's really hard work, but people have been amazing," she said.

While Mr Hamilton went missing last Tuesday morning, his absence was not noted until later that night. Family and friends searched for him the next day and found his net still set, about 100 metres into the harbour on the tidal flat.

The Police Search And Rescue team was also called in and a spotter plane was sent up to try to find the man, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old who died after being washed off rocks at notorious Whangarei fishing spot The Gap, near Taiharuru, on Sunday, was Mario Openshaw, police said.

Mr Openshaw was swept out to sea while fishing off rocks at The Gap, 32km northeast of Whangarei on Sunday afternoon. He was with his brother and another man. Sea conditions were rough.

Mr Openshaw's brother jumped into the raging water to try to rescue him. The Northland Electricity rescue helicopter arrived at the scene within minutes, but Mr Openshaw was dead by the time he was pulled from the water.

Northland's drowning toll for 2013 officially stands at six with Mr Openshaw's death, one more than the whole of 2012.