Tauranga doctor David Holland missing for three years: Mother’s fresh plea for help

Doctor David Holland was reported missing on March 11, 2022 after telling friends he was going for a swim near his Pāpāmoa home. Photo / Supplied

Three years ago Tauranga doctor David Holland told friends he was going for a swim – he hasn’t been seen since.

The then 31-year-old Tauranga Hospital anaesthetics registrar was last seen on March 11, 2022 at his Pāpāmoa home, after telling friends he was heading for a dip near the end of Pacific View Rd.

He was initially believed to be lost at sea despite being a strong swimmer, and was known for going swimming on his own.

However, CCTV later emerged showing a person who looked like him walking towards State Highway 29A over the Sandhurst Drive overbridge.

Police earlier said his disappearance was considered “out-of-character”.

This week his grieving mother, Karen Holland, approached the Bay of Plenty Times with a fresh plea for public information about her youngest son who she described as a “clever, multi-talented, beautiful human being”.

She said she hadn’t lost hope of seeing David again, but the pain of not having answers was crushing.

“It’s now 2025 – three years from one of the worst days of my life as a mother and as a person,” she said.

“If you are connected to his disappearance in any way, or know someone that may have been, please contact the police.”

She said she was reaching out to the people across New Zealand to help.

“The cities, the small towns, the isolated areas, the homeless communities, the barista coffee bars, the music community, the volunteer services - any aspect of life across all contexts. Look closely at the people who work alongside you, the people you pass daily, the people who serve you, the people in your life, whatever context.”

Originally from Wales, Holland had lived in New Zealand since 2017 and applied for residency before his disappearance.

There were weeks of exhaustive efforts to try to find Holland, with searches by sea, air and land along the coastline from Mount Maunganui to Kaituna Cut coastline.

Friends and hundreds of community volunteers, including Tauranga Land Search and Rescue members, assisted in the police-led searches.

Missing Tauranga Hospital doctor David Holland and his mother Karen Holland, who urges anyone with information to come forward to police. Photo / Supplied NZ Police

Heartbreaking news

“Life had changed forever” after the late-night call from New Zealand advising her there were concerns for her son’s safety.

The CCTV footage had “led to other theories” developing but no closure.

“We still don’t know that is him and no one has come forward to date to say that it is. We still have no news. Nothing. Just speculation.”

She described it as “a nightmare ... we want to wake up”.

This CCTV image of a man wearing hiking boots, long tan coloured pants, and a dark-coloured long-sleeved hooded top walking on the Sandhurst Drive overbridge is believed to be Tauranga doctor David Holland. Photo / Supplied

Having visited David several times in New Zealand, she said the country will always be special to her.

She also appealed directly to her son to get in contact.

“You are my waking thought, my last thought at night ... if you see this appeal yourself David, please come back to us.”

Tauranga Hospital doctor David Holland, who was last seen at his Pāpāmoa home on March 11, 2022, with his griefstricken mother Karen Holland. Photo /Supplied NZ police

Police respond to mother’s plea

A police spokeswoman said detectives had received information in the years since David’s disappearance.

“The latest of which was in 2024. This was followed up by the police. Unfortunately, this information did not assist further.”

Tauranga Police also posted on social media in a plea for information.

Anyone with any information that may assist the police should call 105 and quote reference number 220312/6860 or make contact online at 105.police.govt.nz, and click “Update Report”.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 24 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.