Police search for missing boatie on Lake Wakatipu

Monday, 1 July 2019

Police are searching for a man who went missing from a boat on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown. 

A police spokeswoman said the man, who was the sole passenger aboard a cabin boat, set out on the lake from from the Earnslaw slipway near the Wakatipu Yacht Club, about 9.30am on Sunday.

The boat was then seen on the shore near the Bay View Rd boat ramp about an hour later, but it was not until late on Sunday afternoon that the boat was found to be empty and the man missing.

LandSAR and Coastguard personnel searched the shoreline and lake following the discovery on Sunday night. The search was resumed on the water, around the shoreline, and from the air on Monday. 

**READ MORE:

* Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu floor mapped

* Search for missing boatie on Lake Hauroko called off

* Christchurch man missing in boating incident in Southland**

The Police National Dive Squad will arrive in Queenstown on Tuesday to join the search.

'Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the boat on the lake yesterday between 9am and 5pm.'

She said the boat has a dark hull, and a white fibreglass cabin.

People with information can contact Queenstown Police on 105 quoting file number 190701/4755.

The incident comes just four days after the search for a missing boatie on Lake Hauroko in the Fiordland National Park was called off. 

Police and partners searched the lake multiple times since the boat, which had two people onboard was reported missing on May 31.

The two people were understood to be Michael Goodson and Rosemary Spiewak, of Christchurch.

A woman's body was found on June 1, however the missing man has not been located.