A major search and rescue operation was launched on Tuesday evening after a kayaker failed to return to Waihi Beach. Emergency services were alerted at approximately 5:40 pm when it was reported the man had set off early that morning and had not been seen since. New Zealand Police described the missing man's craft as a single-seat, sit-on-top kayak with a distinctive blue, black, and white mottled camouflage finish.
10am: Police confirm Eagle helicopter joined overnight search
Police have confirmed their Eagle helicopter was part of last night’s search, which ran through the evening. In an updated statement this morning, Sergeant Will Hamilton said search and rescue teams are back at Waihi Beach today, looking for both the man and his kayak.
The statement doesn’t mention the air ambulance we tracked over Tauranga Harbour, so whether it was involved is still unconfirmed.
Police have also changed the number to call. If you saw the kayak, a blue single-seat sit-on-top with black and white camo, or have information that could help, call 105 and quote P067997461.
8am - Our initial overnight report:
Around midnight, two helicopters converged over Whangamatā. Flight-tracking data showed one aircraft arriving from Auckland and touching down briefly in the town while the second circled above. Upon takeoff, the units separated, with one patrolling the coastline north of Waihi Beach and the other sweeping south.
Low-altitude runs along the shoreline and methodical offshore circuits form the backbone of a coastal rescue operation. This particular sweep concentrated well up the coast from Waihi Beach – the kayaker's point of entry – focusing intensely on the coastal stretch leading toward Whangamatā.
Monitoring a live flight tracker, Go Boating NZ observed the Auckland-based helicopter executing a series of tight orbits off the coast between Whangamatā and Whiritoa. The aircraft then pushed several kilometres out to sea on a long, narrow reconnaissance loop before pivoting back toward the shoreline. At 12:16 am, the helicopter hovered low at roughly 375 feet just off Whiritoa beach. Sixteen minutes later, tracking data showed it tracking south past Pancake Bay toward Waihi Beach, maintaining an altitude of 400 feet at a speed of 27 knots.
While formal confirmation is still pending, flight telemetry heavily suggests the Auckland-sourced aircraft was the NZ Police Eagle helicopter, given its point of origin and its specific twin-engine Bell 429 profile.
Meanwhile, the second helicopter – identified by flight trackers as a Hamilton-based air ambulance – headed south. The aircraft was logged over Tauranga Harbour near Matakana Island, just north of Ōmokoroa, before turning back toward its base. Police have not formally confirmed whether this flight was tied to the active search.
When contacted by Go Boating NZ this morning regarding the dual-helicopter deployment, police stated they were still compiling data from the overnight mission and would issue an updated release shortly. However, during discussions with the Police Media team, Go Boating NZ understood that both flights were indeed linked to the search, with formal confirmation expected soon.
Police have yet to confirm whether active search operations have resumed today. Anyone who spots the distinct camouflage kayak, or has any information that could assist search teams, is urged to call 111 immediately and quote file reference P067997461. This story will be updated as further information is released by authorities.
