Skipper still missing from Mi Jay

Paul Rees

Friends and family have been told the two men found dead onboard a liferaft from the missing Mi Jay fishing vessel are crewmen Cedric James and Wiremu Tawhiti of Nelson.

The body of skipper Paul Rees, 52, remains missing following the discovery of the liferaft off the Kaikoura coast yesterday.

Rescue authorities are hoping the partly submerged liferaft, found 11km offshore, will give them some clues as to what happened to the men and their boat. The crewmen found onboard were wearing little clothing, leading rescuers to believe they abandoned ship in a hurry.

Maritime officials earlier said they will need fresh information before resuming the search for the third crew member.

The 13m Mi Jay had not been seen since it left Nelson on November 22 with Mr Rees, Mr Tawhiti, 53, and Mr James, 52, onboard. The boat was reported missing on December 6 after its owner, Warwick Loader, of Crusader Fisheries, was unable to establish radio contact.

Speaking from Auckland this morning, Mr James' father, Cedric Ngawaka, said he had given a description of Mr James' tattoos to police which they confirmed last night were on one of the bodies.

"It is very much a relief. Now I can really come away with an end to it all."

Mr Ngawaka said he was being supported by family and was waiting for Nelson police to phone him again to officially confirm the find and to discuss arrangements for Mr James' body to be returned.

Suzette Hovenden, the Nelson woman with whom Mr Tawhiti boarded, said she was told by police last night that Mr Tawhiti was one of the men found in the raft.

He had been identified by tattoos and his hair, she said.

"It is just good that they have found them."

Nelson Fishermen's Association vice-president Grant Orr said the discovery provided some closure for the families but also highlighted the need for fishing boats and life rafts to be equipped with emergency equipment and provisions which crew knew how to use.

"It is indescribable to think what had gone through their minds. It shows the importance of training and letting crew know what is in the liferaft and how to use it."

The discovery would impact on fishing communities all over New Zealand, he said.

Rescue Coordination Centre NZ spokesman Steve Corbett said it was likely the liferaft had drifted from the Mernoo Bank area, which was included in the area searched by an air force Orion.

Reasons why the liferaft could have been missed would be subject to an investigation, he said.

"The Orion has a highly trained crew and we would have expected the liferaft to be seen if they were there to be seen."

Mr Corbett added: "Our first priority will be to have a look and see whether there is anything that can help us locate the third man."

- nzpa, NEWSTALK ZB