Waikato River search to recommence as man remain unaccounted for

Western Waikato Police searching for a man who is believed to have jumped from a bridge into the Waikato River yesterday will recommence their search today.

Huntly Sub-Area Manager, Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson, said a water-borne and river bank search will commence shortly however the viability of using the Police Specialist Dive Squad is currently being assessed.

"The situation on and in the river is such that due to the water levels, current and lack of visibility it is not believed to be safe to place our divers in the water at this time however this is being constantly reviewed between our Search and Rescue staff and the dive squad in Wellington.

"We expect the lessened demand for power over the weekend will result in a corresponding reduced draw on the river so water levels will drop as the hydro dams upstream are closed. This may improve visibility in the river allowing for the deployment of the divers to assist in the search."

Mr Simpson said Police were keeping an open mind on the identity of the person who jumped from the bridge at Rangiriri however there had been no information to suggest the person was other than the man they believed was involved, a 49-year-old Auckland male.

"While we're searching today we would still like to hear from any landowners who may find anything unusual washed up on the bank or stuck in debris.

"Likewise we would also like to hear from any other river users who notice anything untoward on the river, if you do notice anything suspicious please contact Huntly Police on 07 828 7560.