Missing pig hunter search resumes

Concern is growing for pig hunter Kevin Hayward who went missing while hunting near Mangakino on Monday.

Land Search and Rescue Volunteers along with Police from the Bay of Plenty and Taupo, Turangi, Tokoroa, Waitomo and Hamilton will continue their search today for the 41-year-old Ohaupo pig hunter.

The Youth Town Rescue Helicopter is involved in a search for a missing pig hunter in Mangakino.

The man, who lives and hunts alone, was not reported overdue, but staff at the Waipapa Dam on the Waikato River called police on Tuesday when they noticed his ute had been parked at the dam since 10am on Monday.

They also saw an unaccompanied pig dog running around the ute on Monday afternoon.

It is known that the man is a regular hunter in the area of pine forest on the eastern side of the Waikato River.

He is said to be well organised, well equipped and an experienced hunter who only normally goes on a day hunt.

Up to 45 people were involved in the search on Wednesday assisted by two Land SAR dogs, a police dog, the Youth Town Rescue helicopter and the Waikato River Harbourmaster. The search will continue today in a similar area with further investigation of some clues found.

On Wednesday a second dog belonging to the man was found on the western side of the Waikato River a little way upstream of the dam.

Police report three dogs are still unaccounted for. The two dogs that have been found were wearing tracking collars, and it is thought the others are also wearing them, but this has not helped find them.

A search base has been set up near the Waipapa Dam and the search will be managed from there again today.

There is no cell phone coverage in that area.

If anybody has any information that might help this search please call the Tokoroa Police Station 07 885 0100.