A major search is underway for a man who went missing after paddling out from Waihi Beach early on Tuesday morning. Police were not alerted to his disappearance until approximately 5:40 pm that evening, and he has not been seen since. The kayak is blue, with a distinct black and white mottled camouflage finish.
By midnight, the emergency response escalated as two helicopters converged over Whangamatā. Flight-tracking data showed that one aircraft had flown down from Auckland, landing briefly in the township while a second helicopter circled overhead. Shortly after, the pair separated to maximize their coverage, with one patrolling north of Waihi Beach and the other heading south.
Boating NZ monitored the Auckland helicopter’s movements on Flightradar24 into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Its flight path formed a dense tangle of small circles right off the coast between Whangamatā and Whiritoa, broken up by a single long loop that pushed several kilometres out to sea before returning inshore. At 12:16 am, the aircraft sat almost motionless, hovering at around 375 feet just off Whiritoa Beach. By 12:32 am, it was tracking south past Pancake Bay, bound for Waihi Beach at an altitude of 400 feet and a speed of 27 knots. Flightradar24 identified the machine as a Bell 429, though its registration and operator details were hidden from public view.
This specific flight profile – skimming low along the sand and running repetitive offshore circuits – is standard procedure when a crew is meticulously checking a coastline. Interestingly, this active search zone was located well north of where the man originally entered the water at Waihi Beach.
The second helicopter worked a grid further south. Tracking data showed this aircraft originated in Hamilton, leading Boating NZ to believe it was the Waikato air ambulance. At around 12:34 am, it was logged over Tauranga Harbour near Matakana Island, just north of Ōmokoroa, before eventually returning to Hamilton. Police have yet to officially state whether this flight was formally tied to the rescue mission.
When contacted by Boating NZ this morning, a police spokesperson said they were still gathering information from the overnight operation and an updated statement would follow. Written questions regarding the tracker data have been submitted to the police media team. Until formal verification is received, Boating NZ understands that both aircraft were operating as part of the search.
There is currently no word on whether active search operations have resumed today. If you have sighted this camouflage kayak, or have any information that could assist rescue teams, please call 111 immediately and quote file reference P067997461. This is a breaking news story; updates will be added as official information comes to hand.
