Drifting waveski prompts search

A coastline and marine search is expected to resume today for the owner of a waveski found floating in the Hauraki Gulf last night with a fresh snapper in it.

The red and orange plastic waveski was seen floating about 5km south of Tiritiri Matangi Passage at 5pm by people sailing to Kawau Island.

Coastguard duty officer Mike Lawrence said the people became concerned after noticing that the waveski, which is similar to a kayak but without sides, had fishing gear on it including a bag of berley and a freshly caught snapper.

A weather reading from Tiritiri at the time recorded winds of between 40 and 50 knots and 1m swells - the kind of conditions that Mr Lawrence said were not suitable for waveskis.

A search involving 26 police and coastguard staff was launched and further items, including a backpack and chillybag, were found in the water near Browns Bay. There was nothing in the backpack to give any indication of who it belonged to.

Mr Lawrence said it was too early to say what happened to the owner of the waveski.

The search was carried out on the basis the person had been out fishing, fallen into the water and was in need of rescue.

It was, however, hoped that the person had swum ashore, or that the waveski had drifted out to sea from the shore and that the person was last night safe and sound at home.

Inspector Ian Brooker from the northern communications centre said the search included police patrols of the beaches from Devonport to Long Bay but there was not sign of the owner. No missing persons had been reported last night, and nor had any vehicles been left at boat ramps.

Mr Lawrence said he would like anyone who knows about the waveski to ring this morning.

"That would be great if someone rang and said, 'Yesterday afternoon I lost my kayak'. We are not going to be angry at you. Obviously we would have preferred you to have called earlier but we would rather know it's all good."

The search will resume about 7am or 8am today if there has been no word from the owner.