Search for missing man continues
 
The Police Dive Squad has been searching throughout Saturday for a 72-year-old man missing off the Wairarapa coast, but no sign of the man has been found.
 
The Martinborough man went out from Sandy Bay near Te Awaiti at 11am on Thursday to set a crayfish pot. 
 
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) managed a search involving a RNZAF P3 Orion, helicopters, fishing boats, and a land-based coastal search on Friday.
 
A helicopter made a further search on Saturday morning, and the Police Dive Squad has undertaken a series of dives in Sandy Bay throughout the day, progressively widening their search around the area near the man's crayfish pot at the mouth of the bay.
 
RCCNZ said the man's family has confirmed that a 2-3m inflatable boat found on Friday 68km (37 nautical miles) off the coast was his boat.
 
RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Keith Allen said the search effort will be reviewed overnight to reach a decision on the next stage of the search.
 
A further update will be issued after midday tomorrow, unless there are further developments.
 
ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>