The trail appears to have gone cold in the search for a group of kayakers who sparked a large search and rescue operation off the South Otago coast at the weekend.
Police have failed to identify the group who were reported to be in trouble in heavy seas off the Kaka Point coast last Sunday. A reliable former search and rescue official raised the alarm, but police and others failed to find any trace of them. The search was officially suspended on Monday.
Clutha police sub-area controller Senior Sergeant Richard Whitmore, of Balclutha, said the police investigation had failed to find the eight people believed to have gone missing off the coast. Its attention was now turning towards encouraging group members to contact police.
The information they could provide would help in the operation's debriefing. He would not comment on whether the group faces getting the search and rescue bill, which could be several tens of thousands of dollars.
"At the moment, we are focusing on trying to find this group and find out more about what happened at Kaka Point on Sunday," he said.
Police had no positive leads, no confirmed reports of any vehicles, or any other important information.
Snr Sgt Whitmore urged the group to contact police.
