Elderly hunter missing down river

Google Maps

A search is under way for an elderly hunter believed to have been swept down a Bay of Plenty river yesterday.

The 70-year-old man had been hunting with another man when their dogs chased a pig across the Kaituna River in Paengaroa, south of Te Puke, Senior Sergeant Carl Purcell said.

The hunters tried to swim across the river to continue the chase and there had been no sign of the man since.

He went missing about 5pm.

Search and Rescue members were searching the river banks and a boat had done a sweep of the river last night and this morning, Mr Purcell said.

The police dive quad was expected to arrive later this afternoon.

The missing man was a "very experienced" hunter from the local area, he told NZPA.

The Okere Gates on the Kaituna River were being closed this afternoon to lower the river level to help the search, a Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesperson said.

It was not known when normal flows would resume.

- NZPA