Missing boys found safe in Kaimais

Two missing boys were yesterday (Monday 22 March) found safe and well in bush in the Kaimai Ranges in the Bay of Plenty.

Katikati Police were informed at about 1:40pm on Monday afternoon that the two boys – a Canadian visitor aged eight years and an exchange student from Thailand aged 13 years were missing.

The boys, along with the eight year old's mother and his Grandmother, went for a walk in the Kaimai bush at the end of Hot Springs Rd at about 10am.

The boys were allowed to run on ahead with instructions to meet up at the Tauhu Kauri Tree. When the mother and grandmother reached the Kauri tree, the boys were nowhere to be found.

They searched the area, but when they were unable to find the boys they returned and contacted police.

Tauranga Police SAR and Tauranga Land Search and Rescue volunteers were gathered at the Tauranga South Police Station for a briefing on the situation when the two boys were located by a local resident. He had heard about the missing pair and rode his horse along the track, finally catching up to the boys.

It is believed the boys failed to recognise the Kauri tree as their destination and had carried on walking past it, traveling deeper into the Kaimais towards the Waikato side.

The boys were about two hours walking time into the bush when located. They had no bush experience and only had light clothes.

Sergeant Craig Madden, Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Western Bay of Plenty, said it was lucky they were found so quickly as the weather forecast was for showers and strong winds in the higher areas.

"The boys would have struggled if they had been the night in the bush. This was a great outcome for everyone involved."