Private search planned for missing fisherman

The brother of Mi Jay skipper Paul Rees is planning a private search for the lost vessel as authorities plan to call off the official search later today.

Charlie Rees, of Oamaru, said there were plans to use two commercial fishing boats to scour areas the Mi Jay might be.

His brother, Paul, 52, was last heard from two weeks ago as he left on the 13-metre fishing boat with two crew members, who have not been named. They left Nelson to fish off the Canterbury coast but searchers now believe they could have gone somewhere near the Chatham Islands.

The official Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) search is expected to be called off later today.

Charlie Rees, along with one of his former employers, is going to search for his brother with two boats, in between fishing.

Further searches may be arranged, as the family members have some money available.

Charlie Rees described his brother as a pretty healthy bloke.

"He's a 52-year-old 30-year-old, if you get what I mean," he said. "He won't give up anyway -- he's a very fit man.

"And he'll be doing his best to get the others off the boat with him."

The search was different to most searches as no-one had any idea where the boat had gone.

"It makes it so hard," Mr Rees said.

But the RCCNZ had done a good job considering the lack of information, Mr Rees said.

The search was due to enter its final phase today at the Chatham Islands.

The Mi Jay has not been heard from since November 22 when it left Nelson and rescue authorities fear the crew took to a liferaft and the Mi Jay has sunk.

The boat carried high frequency radio gear and had two emergency beacons but Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokeswoman Heidi Brook said nothing had been heard since it left port.

She said Mr Rees was experienced but "wasn't that great" about telling people where he was heading.

Late last week the searchers changed the search area from the top half of the South Island's east coast to the Chatham Islands after indications Mr Rees may have gone there to fish.

Today, the Chatham Islands police were due to search the southern part of the main island after a fixed-wing aircraft called off its search during the weekend because of bad weather.

Some of the outlying islands were also due to be searched today depending on the weather.

- OAMARU MAIL