Climbers remain missing

Searchers' mission

CAMERON BURNELL/ Fairfax NZ

Inspector Frank Grant is leading the police search and rescue effort.

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Darkness has fallen for a fourth day on the search for two students and a climbing instructor near New Plymouth.

The missing group was swept away by heavy seas on Wednesday at Paritutu Rock.

Spotswood College students Felipe Melo, 17, and Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye, 17, and Topec instructor Bryce John Jourdain, 42, are presumed drowned.

A group of 50 people searched 20km of shore from Port Taranaki to Ahu Ahu Road today with the search team due to be scaled back to about 15 personnel on Sunday.

Police Inspector Frank Grant said a number of volunteers also conducted their own searches along the coastline.

Several items of clothing had been found by search and rescue over the past few days, but it was not yet known if they belong to the missing, he said.

An Air Force iroquois helicopter did a final fly over yesterday morning before heading back to the RNZAF Ohakea Base, he said.

An alpine climbing team were searching the rocks around the base of Paritutu and kayakers were searching Port Taranaki's main breakwater to see if the bodies had become wedged in the akmons, he said.

Taranaki Surf Lifesaving inflatable rescue boats were also on the water again.

Mr Grant thanked the community for all its support.

"At times of difficulty like this the Taranaki community comes together.

"We didn't even have to ask for assistance."

- © Fairfax NZ News