Police dive squad joins kayaker search

The police national dive squad will join Queenstown police today in searching for a kayaker who has been missing since Friday.

Gellert Csaba Mudra, 41, a Hungarian, was last seen paddling on Lake Wakatipu about 4.45pm Friday in a hired kayak.

The kayak was found floating with the paddle and lifejacket stowed inside about 6pm.

Detective Sergeant Grahme Bartlett said Search and Rescue members were hunting for him around the lake and in nearby bush, with police divers from Wellington extending the search to the lake floor,

They had not ruled out Mr Mudra having landed and walked away from the craft into the bush, or the town.

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.

Mr Mudra moved to Queenstown with his wife 18 months ago.

- NZPA