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Police searching for missing kayaker in river near Rotorua

December 30, 2017
Police emergency scene

Police emergency scene (Source: 1 NEWS)

Searches are continuing on land and water for a 17-year-old kayaker missing in the Kaitiuna River near Rotorua since earlier this evening.

Police say they were notified at around 6.40pm that the young man was missing near the Okere Falls.  He was last seen by a friend downstream from the falls.

They say the control gates to Okere Falls are now closed and the river level is dropping and will be extremely low tomorrow.

Police, along with land and water-based Search and Rescue teams are continuing to search the river and river bank tonight.

They will resume again tomorrow if they do not locate the missing kayaker tonight. 

New ZealandTauranga and Bay of Plenty

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