26 Oct 2022

Kayak recovered in search for man missing on Lake Rotorua

9:01 am on 26 October 2022
Ecan wetlands restoration work - Lake Rotorua - small lake near Kaikōura in South Island

File photo.The man was reported overdue from kayaking on Lake Rotorua on Monday afternoon. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A kayak has been recovered in the search for a man missing on Lake Rotorua.

Police said the inflatable kayak matched the description of the one used by the man, a visitor from France.

It was found near the eastern shores, north of the SH33 and SH30 intersection, on Tuesday afternoon.

The discovery allowed police to narrow the search to an area to the east of Mokoia Island, they said.

Members of the Coastguard, Police SAR, and volunteers from LandSAR were carrying out a third day of searching on Wednesday.

The man was reported overdue on Monday afternoon, and police believed he was paddling in the Mokoia Island area.

Police still wanted to hear from anyone who may have seen this man or his kayak, likely to have been at the northern end of the lake, on Monday afternoon.

Anyone with information could call call 105 and quote event number P052355407.