The search for the body of a fisherman who went missing off the coast of Northland is to be “scaled back”, police said.
The man was one of two people aboard a boat reported overdue on Friday night.
An air and sea search of the coast off Pataua South was launched to find the 5m runabout, and on Saturday morning, a body and a vessel were found.
Police, search and rescue crews, and the Navy spent yesterday searching a “large area” of sea and shoreline to no avail.
Today, Detective Sergeant Paul Overton said police would scale back the search to “give searchers a chance to rest and consider next steps in the process”.
“We have extensively searched a vast area since we were first alerted on Friday night, in the hope of bringing the missing man home to his family.
“Our search has by no means stopped but, today, we will scale back and consider what other options are available to us,” Overton said.
Overton said there would still be daily reconnaissance of the shoreline and he hoped that the changing currents, speed, and water pressure would assist in the recovery.
He thanked the public and those involved in the search.
“It’s been a really challenging time for everyone involved and we are grateful to each and every person who has assisted us during the past few days.”
Overton urged locals to call 111 if they saw “anything unusual” in the water.
