Missing kayaker 'depressed'

The Hungarian kayaker who went missing on Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown had been depressed about not being able to find a job, say police.

Gellert Csaba Mudra, 41, was last seen paddling a hired kayak on the lake on Friday.

His kayak was later found floating with the paddle and lifejacket stowed inside.

Police were keeping an open mind about whether Mr Mudra had come to grief on the water or beached his kayak and walked away, The Southland Times reported.

They said he he had lived in Queenstown with his wife for the past 18 months and had recently been depressed about his inability to find work.

Mr Mudra's family in Hungary told police he was an accomplished kayaker and swimmer.

Police said they wanted to speak with another kayaker who was in Queenstown Bay, near the Botanical Gardens between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on Friday.

The Wellington-based police national dive squad yesterday joined Queenstown police and Search and Rescue in searching for Mr Mudra.

A helicopter was also used in the search but with no result.

Mr Mudra was described as 185cm tall, 95kg, with short grey hair and with a "middle-aged spread".

He was wearing wire-rimmed glasses, a light blue polo shirt, a beige long-sleeve woollen pullover, blue jeans and beige trainers.

Police said divers would continue their search today, while the land search would wind down as the number of Mr Mudra's possible locations diminished.

- NZPA