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CHRISTCHURCH - Police in Kaikoura are looking for the occupant of a kayak that washed ashore at South Bay this morning.
The blue single-person inflatable kayak had fishing gear and some food aboard, but there was no sign of any occupant.
"Indications are that a person should have been with it," Sergeant Ramon Smith, of Kaikoura police told NZPA.
The kayak was found at the high tide mark by a recreational fisherman about 8am.
Mr Smith said it could have been abandoned, blown off a beach or had an occupant who may have been tipped out at sea.
"With the nor'west winds we've had in the last 48 hours it could have been blown down from Wellington," Mr Smith said.
Diving gear found aboard the kayak would fit an adult, but gave no indication if it belonged to a male or female.
Food remnants included an empty potato chip packet, a partly filled soft drink bottle and a full water bottle.
Mr Smith said local commercial fishers and tourist operators had been alerted and were keeping watch for a person in the water.
"No one's reported the boat missing and we have no reports of missing people," Mr Smith said.
He said it was too early to launch a search and rescue operation, because police had no idea where to look. A decision on whether to mount a search would be assessed later today.
Mr Smith said police wanted anyone who might know who the kayak belonged to contact Kaikoura police or any police station.
- NZPA
