Missing kayaker feared dead

A Bay of Plenty kayaker is feared dead after his family reported him missing yesterday, nine days after he was last seen.

Police said the elderly Ohope man was last seen on June 28 or 29, when he was believed to have gone kayaking in Ohope's Ohiwa Harbour.

His family contacted police yesterday afternoon to report him missing.

Police have appealed for any sightings of the kayak, described as a plastic orange 3.6-metre Ocean River Largo model with splashes of yellow and red on it.

Anyone who knew about a kayak being found in the harbour area should contact police as soon as possible, Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins said.

He said police, search and rescue volunteers and Coastguard would use boats and a helicopter today in a sea and shoreline search.

- NZPA