KEY POINTS:
The search for a kayaker who disappeared from Porirua 11 days ago has been called off after the man heard reports he was missing on the radio and phoned police.
Hayley Patuwai, 23, set off from Titahi Bay Beach in Porirua on March 20 heading for Picton.
He was planning to travel, under his own steam, down the South Island to Invercargill to raise money to help at-risk youths in Porirua who he works with under the name Dr Bubbles.
Mr Patuwai's family became concerned when they had not heard from him for 10 days and contacted police yesterday.
At about 5am this morning Mr Patuwai went into a Shell service station and heard his name on the radio.
He went to the radio station and called police to tell them he wasn't lost.
"He's in Timaru. He's been biking down the South Island," Senior Sergeant Tim Crawford said.
Mr Crawford said Mr Patuwai had found himself in a bit of trouble on the way to Picton.
"He hit some rough water and stayed on an island somewhere - at best guess - in the Marlborough Sounds for a few days. He doesn't quite know where it was.
"Then he's got to Picton around the 24th of March and he's been biking down towards Invercargill."
Mr Patuwai had carried a cellphone which was to be used to check in with his family.
"There's been a breakdown in communications," Mr Crawford said.
"He phoned his family collect on March 24, but the call wasn't accepted and that's the last contact his family had from him."
Mr Patuwai is expected to continue his journey.
- NZPA
