Body found in search for missing kayaker

Lake Ellesmere Photo: RNZ
Lake Ellesmere Photo: RNZ
A body has been found in the search for a kayaker missing on Lake Ellesmere, near Christchurch.

Police advised this evening that they found the body about 2pm today during the search for 59-year-old Christchurch man Louis Solofua.

The death has been referred to the coroner and formal identification is yet to take place.

Police conducted the search along with the North Canterbury Coastguard.

A karakia at the site was performed by local iwi Te Taumutu Rūnanga this afternoon and a rāhui has been put in place between Greenpark Huts and the Kaitorete Spit.

Solofua didn't return to his family after a solo mission to check fishing nets on Saturday morning.

Police believed he came out of his kayak, which was pushed away by the wind and found by search crews on the Kaitorete Spit later that afternoon.