Fishers asked to respect rahui

The rahui that has been placed over Doubtless Bay following the disappearance of a diver at Cable Bay on January 8 will not significantly affect this weekend's two-day ITM Doubtless Bay fishing competition.

The rahui was imposed after Rangi Roydon Tapu was lost while diving just 50 metres from the beach.

Extensive searches on the water, from the air and of the shoreline have failed to find him, and formal searching has now ended, although Mangonui's senior police officer, Constable Brett Walford, said yesterday that he was continuing to check the shoreline.

The term of the rahui will to some degree depend on when or if Mr Tapu's body is found, but is otherwise scheduled to remain in place until February 9.

The organisers of the fishing competition said last week that they had spoken to Ngati Kahu kaumatua, however, and the contest would proceed. All contestants would be advised that the rahui prohibited the taking of shellfish, fishing from rocks and close to shore between Taipa and Mangonui, and would be asked to respect the rahui and the feelings of the missing man's family.

Constable Walford also asked that the rahui be respected. Swimming and other forms of recreation were not affected, he said, but those who went into the water should remember that there was still a missing diver who had last been seen at Cable Bay.

******

There has still been no sign of 48-year-old Doubtless Bay woman Leann Ailini Scott, who was last seen at the Taipa shops on December 12. When last seen she was wearing an orange fluorescent top, black pants and Nike running shoes.

Constable Walford said Ms Scott's disappearance was a mystery.

"She has simply vanished," he said.

Anyone with any information regarding Ms Scott's disappearance or whereabouts is urged to contact Constable Walford at the Mangonui police station, phone (09) 406-2060.