Fisherman's death investigated

Northland police Search and Rescue co-ordinator, Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe. Photo / File

The body of a Northland man who went fishing was found hours after he was reported missing by his family.

Police have not ruled out drowning but said the cause of death would be ascertained after a post mortem examination.

Northland police Search and Rescue co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said the 63-year-old man from Kaiwaka went fishing for flounder with a spear at an inlet of the Kaipara Harbour. He parked his car at the end of Rangiora Rd, south west of Kaiwaka, before embarking on his fishing trip.

It was unclear when the man left home but Mr Metcalfe said he informed his family he would be back by 4am yesterday in time to watch the Rugby World Cup final. His family became concerned when the man failed to return home and called police at 8.30am.

Officers from Maungaturoto initially became involved in the search before a search and rescue team from Whangarei, two boats and a fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched.

His family found his car on Rangiora Rd yesterday morning.

Mr Metcalfe said search and rescue volunteers and locals in one of the boats located the man's body upstream or about 2km from where he had parked his car at 11.55am.

Two police officers then left by boat and retrieved his body.

Mr Metcalfe said it was not unusual for people to go floundering alone.

"At this stage, we're unsure what happened to him. He did all the right things by saying where he was going and when he'll be back," he said.

"He was a fit man, a strong swimmer and at this stage we're trying to ascertain what happened."

Police have withheld the man's identity until his family is officially informed of his death.

Ten people have drowned in Northland so far this year- twice as many as at the same time last year.

Northland's drowning rate is the highest in the country and Water Safety New Zealand has urged everyone to be more responsible around water.