One year on, the search continues for man who went missing in Cyclone Gabrielle

Friday, 9 February 2024

A year on from Cyclone Gabrielle hitting New Zealand, Gisborne man Joseph Ahuriri is still missing - with emergency services renewing efforts to find him with specialised drones.

Cyclone Gabrielle caused 11 deaths and widespread damage in areas including Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.

Experts have described the weather as a one in a 100 year event.

Hundreds of volunteer and emergency service hours have gone into finding Ahuriri, with the latest police effort being a magnometer drone system, which was operated by a GNS scientist.

The drone system is able to define large submerged metallic objects and provide possible locations for further investigations.

The search was carried out in late 2023, with police expected the results within the next month.

“Police continue to stay in contact with Mr Ahuriri’s family, who are advised of any significant updates.”

Ahuriri’s brother, Mike, previously told Stuff that, while it was hard to say it, they knew Ahuriri had passed.

Mum, Jacqualine, had reached the same conclusion.

“In our heads we know he is gone,” she said.

Ahuriri is believed to have left the Scenic Hotel Te Pania in Napier on February 14 at 4.28am to come home to his family in Gisborne.

By then the cyclone had ravaged Hawke’s Bay. Roads were washed out, or strewn with debris, and driving conditions were dangerous.

The last sighting of Ahuriri was at the Waitomo Fuel Stop at Bay View at 5.46am, 10kms north of the hotel he left in his white Toyota Hilux. The last image the family have is of Ahuriri casually leaning against the back of his truck as he refuels.

The family said that all they want is to be able to bring him home and lay him to rest.