Statement attributed to Police Search and Rescue Incident Controller, Sergeant Tony Matheson.
Police can now confirm the name of the missing Wellington kayaker who is overdue from a fishing trip yesterday.
He is 22-year-old Koyren Campbell.
The search has continued today for Koyren after his kayak was found floating near Tarakena Bay yesterday afternoon.
He was due back on land at around noon.
Police have today searched the outer limits of the Wellington Harbour and Palliser Bay.
Today's search involved about 50 people including LANDSar members, a Royal New Zealand Defence Force NH90 crew, the
Wellington Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, Wellington Coastguard, Police public safety staff, the Police Maritime Unit
and Police National Dive Squad.
The areas searched were mapped by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCCNZ), using technology to analyse weather
conditions, currents and tidal conditions.
We covered a significant area by land, sea and air today and the conditions, especially for the air crews, were not
ideal.
The search has concluded for today and the incident control team is currently planning how to manage tomorrow's search.
We are appealing to members of the public who might be in the south coast area including Eastbourne through to
Wairarapa, or along the Miramar/Seatoun coast to be vigilant and on the look out for Koyren or any equipment or clothing
that might belong to him.
We also want to talk to anyone who might have taken photos of the Tarakena Bay area yesterday.
Please have a close look at those and get in touch if you captured his red kayak.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via 105 and quote event number P045173862.