Police find items belonging to missing Wellington kayaker on seabed

Tuesday, 19 January 2021

A kayaker has been missing off Wellington's South Coast since Sunday.

On day three of the search for a kayaker missing off Wellington’s South Coast, police divers have found some of his belongings on the seabed.

Koyren Campbell, 22, has not been seen since Sunday and a police spokesperson said the discovery of these pieces of clothing “raised a number of possibilities”.

“All of which will be assessed, however, it also increased police's concerns for Koyren.”

Police were continuing to search where items were found, as well as the wider area indicated by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre's mapping.

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Koyren Campbell has been missing since Sunday, when his kayak was found off Wellington's South Coast.

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Campbell’s kayak, which he had been fishing from, was found floating in Tarakena Bay, near Moa Point, on Sunday afternoon.

The search involved the police dive squad, teams of land searchers, an Air Force helicopter, and police launch Lady Elizabeth IV.

The search would cover an area from Sinclair Head, west of Owhiro Bay and Red Rocks, to Palliser Bay in Wairarapa.

Police continued to appeal 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 lookout for Koyren or any equipment or clothing that belonged to him.

“We're particularly interested in speaking to anyone who has come across a life jacket in the greater Wellington area since Koyren went missing,” Police said.

Searchers have been scouring the coastlines, air and sea.

The kayaker’s paddle was also still missing.

Senior Sergeant Dave Houston, officer in charge of the Wellington Police Maritime Unit, confirmed police divers were on Tuesday focused in Tarakena Bay, where Campbell’s kayak was found.

A Givealittle page, set up on Monday, said friends hoped to get a thermal imaging drone to join the search but that cost $400 per hour.

“He is the most amazing friend and has a partner who loves him dearly as well as family and friends,” it said.

Campbell’s employer, David Downer, owner of D-Fluff Insulation, joined the search on a jetski along the South Coast and across Wellington Harbour’s mouth on Monday.

He said Campbell, an insulation installer, was a keen outdoors enthusiast who often went fishing or hunting after work.

Niwa marine physics principal scientist Craig Stevens said a lot of things that ended up in the water at Wellington made their way to Palliser Bay due to a constant current south of the city flowing in that direction.

Wind from the northwest on Sunday afternoon would also tend to push things in that direction. But there was also a rising tide that could have created a pull into Wellington Harbour and possibly towards Eastbourne, he said.

Police asked for anyone who had taken photos at the Tarakena Bay area on Sunday to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via 105 and quote event number P045173862.