Divers to help search for man

The police national dive squad will help search for a Picton man who disappeared mysteriously in Picton Harbour.

Christopher Derek John Purdy, 56, was reported missing to police yesterday.

This was after an empty dinghy was found by the coastguard early last Thursday. A search then failed to find the occupant. Police now believe the dinghy belonged to Mr Purdy.

The dingy was spotted by the captain of the Aratere Interisland ferry floating in the area where the Interislander ferry Kaitaki normally docks.

An oar was found with the boat and it is understood a single gumboot was also found later in the area where the dinghy was found.

Mr Purdy lived on a boat in Picton Harbour and was well known in the community.

Detective Kris Payne, of Picton, said Mr Purdy was last seen on Wednesday, October 28, at the Oxley's Tavern then the Irish Bar.

It is understood Mr Purdy had decided to row to a vessel in Picton Harbour and had not been seen since. There are reports his car was found at Waikawa, untouched.

The alarm was apparently raised after Mr Purdy failed to turn up for a friend's funeral service in Picton on Monday.

Last Thursday, the coastguard searched between Picton and Kaipupu Point in atrocious weather conditions after the dinghy was found.

Mr Payne said police and the coastguard had also searched the Picton foreshore without success and the police national dive squad would travel from Wellington today to help with further searches.

If anyone has any information about Mr Purdy's whereabouts, please contact Picton police on 035203120.