Missing Tourist - Lake Hawea

Wanaka Police have grave concerns for a German tourist who last made mobile contact to a friend from his kayak on Lake Hawea at approximately 12.25pm on Monday 29th August.

Wanaka Police SAR coordinator Constable Emma Fleming says the 25 year old male borrowed a kayak from a friend and indicated he was going to paddle from Lake Hawea township to Timaru creek on the eastern shore of Lake Hawea.

Constable Fleming says Wanaka Police were informed by a friend of the missing kayaker at 9.30am today and a Police Search and Rescue operation was commenced in conjunction with Wanaka LandSAR and Hawea Marine search groups.

An aerial search and boat search combed the area and at 12.50 pm located his kayak and paddle in separate locations on the southern shoreline near the township.

The search will continue at first light.