Search and Rescue

At about 8.20pm on Thursday the 10th of January 2013 Police were alerted to the presence of an unoccupied motor vehicle and trailer at Sandy Bay near Te Awaiti, east of Martinborough.

Police inquires have revealed that a 72-year-old Martinborough man went to the area at about 11.00am that morning to set a crayfish pot in a small inflatable boat.

Weather conditions during the day consisted of very high off shore winds and rough seas. The Westpac rescue helicopter was deployed to the area to search but was forced to return due to high winds.

An Air Force Orion is due to search the area at 6am this morning.