Search continues for missing boy

The search continued today for a teenage boy who went missing after getting into trouble at a beach west of Auckland.

The 15-year-old west Auckland boy went missing in the water at Piha Beach, 45km southwest of downtown Auckland, about 3pm yesterday.

A police helicopter searched the area this morning, and lifeguards from Piha Surf Club have been monitoring the shoreline, said Kevin Loughlin, police communications manager for the Waitemata Police District.

Volunteer lifeguards searched the area until dusk yesterday, and the search resumed today with coastguard spotter plane and foot patrols, said Rob Wakelin, general manager of Piha Surf Club.

The boy went into the water with a boogie board yesterday.

Inspector Matt Rogers of the police northern communications centre said the boogie board had since been found.

"But unfortunately we haven't found him yet. It's not looking good."

The boy's disappearance comes the day after a tragic fishing accident in Kawakawa Bay, southeast of Auckland, in which two men died.

- NZPA