Family and friends waiting for news on missing man after kayak washes up near Greymouth

Thursday, 12 March 2026

Zane Murphy is thought to have been swept out to sea near Greymouth.

Family and friends continue to wait for news of the man who is believed to have been swept out to sea near Greymouth five days ago.

Stuff understands the missing man is Zarn Murphy - who is in his early thirties.

Emergency services received a report of a person (thought to be Murphy) being swept out to sea in the Greytown suburb of Blaketown around 6pm on Saturday.

Subsequently, a kayak and paddle were discovered near Blaketown the next day.

Murphy knew how treacherous conditions could be, according to a friend.

Police have not confirmed whether the kayak is connected to Murphy, but have asked the public to come forward if they recognise it.

A friend of Murphy’s told Stuff he had experience working at sea so knew how treacherous the area could be.

The MPK kayak is around 20 years old, according to the company that produced it, Mission Kayaking.

Do you know more? Email nadine.roberts@stuffdigital.co.nz confidentially

Weather conditions have hampered the search.

Managing Director Michael Fletcher said the kayak was designed for children, young adults and people 75kgs and under and was only sold in Smith City stores.

“It’s definitely not for the sea,” Fletcher told Stuff. “It’s more for paddling on the lake side.”

On Tuesday morning, Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood said the search for the person reportedly swept out to sea was continuing, after rough conditions hampered efforts along the shoreline between Charleston and Ross. A rāhui has been placed over the area until further notice.

The Greymouth Star reported the man missing was a local in his early 30s. It also reported that a person seen in the water on Saturday evening was “suspected to be deceased,” according to Senior Sergeant Brent Cook.

“We believe we know who it is,” Cook told the newspaper.

The search goes on

Emily Branje, aged 9, drowned in 2019 after being swept off the beach.

Earlier this week an Emily B Drifter was deployed to help find Murphy.

The drifter is named after Emily Branje, 9, who was swept out to sea at the Hokitika River mouth in 2019 while watching her grandfather whitebaiting.

It can record real-time drift patterns and current speeds

It can be set to drift on the surface when searching for missing people wearing lifejackets, or below the surface if they were not.