Police: Survival of missing man unlikely

A surf lifesaving IRB is used to search. Photo / Alan Gibson

It is unlikely a Tauranga man, who has been missing since the boat he was in capsized on Tuesday night, has survived, police say.

The focus of the search around the inner Tauranga Harbour has now shifted to recovering the body of 23-year-old Shaun Hogarth.

Mr Hogarth was fishing in a small stolen dinghy with three others near Omokoroa when heavy seas swamped the boat and forced them into freezing waters.

Three made it ashore but Mr Hogarth was still missing.

Members of the police dive team and Navy divers using sonar equipment would this morning continue searching the area where police believe the vessel was swamped.

The conditions on the water today would be testing for the team given the tidal nature of the area and the weather, police said.

"Our thoughts are with the family at this time - they have asked me to convey that they are seeking privacy to come to terms with the situation," Western Bay of Plenty police Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said.

Police are also still trying to find 22-year-old Liam Kane who made it to shore but then disappeared.

The two others who were onboard have been charged with the theft of the boat and were to appear in Tauranga District Court today.