The decision by police to call off the official search came after sweeps of the beach at low tide on Saturday night brought nothing to light, six days after the young man's disappearance.
Sergeant Andy Brooke, of Palmerston North Search and Rescue said suspending a search was never an easy decision.
However, the decision was made after a full assessment of the extensive efforts searchers had made over almost a full week.
Mr Brooke said there had been an "incredible response" from friends and others who had volunteered to keep searching.
"We've had farmers, volunteer firefighters, members of rugby clubs, local businesspeople and others from throughout the district all dropping everything to do their very best for Eroni and his family," he said.
Before the official search being stood down helicopters were used to sweep points north and south of the spot where Mr Ravaga-Gaunavou went missing and boats and jetskis were in the water all weekend during daylight hours.
