What's happened to Lance Kapua?

by Kelly Makiha kelly.makiha@dailypost.co.nz
A Rotorua family hope the launch of a new missing persons book may lead to a breakthrough into the mysterious disappearance of a local man 19 years ago.

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

Although his family was worried sick, only a handful of police helped in the search and the disappearance barely made national headlines.

The case is one of 16 missing person stories highlighted in a new book, due for release on Monday, called Still Missing.

Other local cases to feature include the high profile disappearances of Hastings hitchhiker Mona Blades, who went missing near Taupo, and Hamilton's Fran Martin, whose car was found at Wairakei, north of Taupo.

Although the other two cases created huge police and media interest, Lance Kapua's disappearance didn't - something which to this day hurts his family.

The police helped in a search for Lance but the case was never upgraded to the CIB.

The Kapuas approached then Police Minister Peter Tapsell asking for more officers but were told they didn't have the resources.

The family raised $1000, presenting a cheque to local police to go towards "more sources" but police returned the money, saying it should be used to increase publicity.

The family used it to hire a helicopter for an aerial search.

Lance developed schizophrenia while at Waikato University and moved back to Rotorua to live with his mother, Polly Kapua, on Whittaker Rd in Koutu.

He needed to take medication for his illness three times a day.

His niece, Jocelyn Martin, said her uncle was never threatening.

"He always tried to make you laugh and was a bit of a clown."

On the night before his birthday, he told his mother he was heading out for a walk.

In the morning, she noticed he hadn't returned. When family arrived during the day to wish him happy birthday, they grew more concerned and contacted police.

His Rotorua sister Audrey Martin said the police response had eaten away at her.

"I think they thought he was another Maori with a mental health problem who has gone for a walk. It was like he wasn't important."

There were several theories about where Lance could be and suicide was never a likely option.

Police investigated rumours he was picked up by Black Power members and either given a lift out of the city or attacked and killed. It was suggested he could have slipped and fallen in a Kuirau Park hot pool or in Lake Rotorua, both of which were close to his home.



The family saw a tohunga (Maori priest) who led the family to an empty block of land between Whittaker and Bennetts Rds and pinpointed a spot where he believed Lance was buried. Bones were found but they belonged to a dog.

Two psychics told Lance's parents he was living in a commune in the West Coast of the South Island. Mrs Martin said a third psychic she saw also hinted at this. It was a theory Lance's parents believed until their deaths.

"When Mum and Dad died, I kept wondering if Lance would turn up at the funerals."

Mrs Martin said she often looked for her brother because she too believed he was alive.

"Even in a crowd of people, I will see someone with their back to me and I think 'is that Lance?' I walk faster to catch up. I can't accept he is dead. I can see him in my mind what he looks like now. He is grey and a lot thinner."

Mrs Martin has an advanced copy of Still Missing but she only read it this week.

"It brings back a lot of painful memories but at the same time it is a good thing. It will make people aware he is still missing and some people might remember him."