Maritime New Zealand says it is not holding out hope a missing fisherman will be found after he disappeared from a Sealord boat of the coast of Cape Palliser.
Patahi Rewi Hawaikirangi Kawana Jnr was reported missing when he didn't report for duty on the FV Otakou at 11:30am on Thursday, Stuff reports.
He was last seen on board around 50 minutes earlier and is now presumed dead.
"The estimated time for a person in the water in that area and without a life jacket has long passed," Maritime New Zealand said in a statement.
Initially two helicopters and some boats had searched the area where Mr Kawana had gone missing, but Maritime NZ suspended its search at 8pm on Thursday and Sealord stopped looking early on Friday morning.
The Maritime NZ search will not resume unless there is any new information.
It's believed to be the first time in Sealord's 25-year-long history a crew member has gone missing. The company has now launched an internal investigation, Stuff reports.
Mr Kawana's family is still hoping for his safe return.
"Dear lord please bring my grandson home to us luv (sic) forever my boy," his grandmother wrote on Facebook.
Newshub.
