20-year Kapua mystery in spotlight

Rotorua police will this month search for a man who has been missing for 20 years.

The search for Lance Kapua forms part of a television documentary series his family hopes will provide a breakthrough in solving his mysterious disappearance from his Koutu home in July 1989.

The Rotorua cold case is one of eight that will feature in a new TV One series called The Missing.

The series is hosted by author Scott Bainbridge who has written two books about New Zealand cold cases. The latest, released last year, features Mr Kapua's disappearance.

Police have agreed to conduct a new search as a result of the series.

Mr Kapua vanished in Rotorua on Saturday July 1 - the night before his 31st birthday party.

The police helped search for him but the case was never upgraded to the CIB.

The Kapuas even raised $1000 and gave a cheque to local police asking for more officers but were turned down. Instead they used the money to hire a helicopter for an aerial search.

Mr Kapua developed schizophrenia and lived with his mother, Polly Kapua, on Whittaker Rd in Koutu. On the night before his birthday, he told his mother he was heading out for a walk.

He was seen walking around Rotorua that night - including a sighting at Joe's Diner - but was never seen again.

Detective Sergeant John Wilson told The Daily Post yesterday his team would search Utuhina Stream and Lake Rotorua on Monday, March 30.

Mr Wilson said he suspected Mr Kapua either went to or fell into a hot pool, Lake Rotorua or Utuhina Stream.

"We would be looking for bones. Whatever is left, will be skeletal."

Although Mr Wilson admitted the search was mainly for the television programme, he said it would be great if his team found something.

"It would be nice if something came of it. He has got to be somewhere doesn't he?"

Missing persons cases were handled very differently today, Mr Wilson said.

"I know very little about what the police did at the time because I couldn't even find a file."

An extensive search of the city 20 years ago might not have found Mr Kapua but would at least have given his family peace of mind.

Mr Bainbridge was in Rotorua this week putting up posters around the city asking for information from anyone who saw Mr Kapua on the night he disappeared.

Mr Bainbridge said the television programme featuring Mr Kapua would take a scientific look into the cold case in a bid to get fresh information. The episode would get expert advice from police Search and Rescue New Zealand development manager Ross Gordon and show an "age progression" photograph to give people an idea of what Mr Kapua could look like now, 20 years on.

Mr Bainbridge said it was unfortunate there was little information about Mr Kapua's disappearance.

As well as police not searching thoroughly for him, his disappearance failed to generate national media attention.

"It is my belief that because he had run off before, police figured he would be expected back."

Mr Bainbridge said he hoped time would be a help rather than a hinderance.

"Over 20 years, alliances and loyalties change. Someone might be prepared to come forward now.

"It is one of those forgotten cases and that's really sad because he is somebody's brother and somebody's son."