Statement to be attributed to Police Search and Rescue Incident Controller, Sergeant Tony Matheson:
Police can now confirm the name of the missing Wellington kayaker who is overdue from a fishing trip yesterday.
He is 22-year-old Koyren Campbell.
The search has continued today for Koyren after his kayak was found floating near Tarakena Bay yesterday afternoon. He was due back on land at around noon.
Police have today searched the outer limits of the Wellington Harbour and Palliser Bay.
Today's search involved about 50 people including LANDSar members, a Royal New Zealand Defence Force NH90 crew, the Wellington Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, Wellington Coastguard, Police public safety staff, the Police Maritime Unit and Police National Dive Squad.
The areas searched were mapped by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCCNZ), using technology to analyse weather conditions, currents and tidal conditions.
We covered a significant area by land, sea and air today and the conditions, especially for the air crews, were not ideal.
The search has concluded for today and the incident control team is currently planning how to manage tomorrow's search.
We are appealing to members of the public who might be in the south coast area including Eastbourne through to Wairarapa, or along the Miramar/Seatoun coast to be vigilant and on the look out for Koyren or any equipment or clothing that might belong to him.
