Search continues for fisherman

Police and Search and Rescue are scouring the Waipawa River for a missing fly fisherman, last seen over a week ago.

It is understood members of the public saw Peter Koziol, a 55-year-old, from Palmerston North, by the Waipawa bridge on SH2 around midday on Monday, December 10 at his vehicle, a blue Ford Falcon, registration ZG4508.

The vehicle has been recovered by police from this location.

A police spokesman said Peter is a bald Pa¯ heka¯ man who wears glasses.

“He may have a blue backpack and full-body (up to armpits) brown PVC waders on.”

They said his intention was to fish toward the intersection of the Waipawa and Tukituki rivers and return to Palmerston North.

Police have also received calls from the public who believe they saw Peter on the river on Tuesday.

They have concerns for his whereabouts and are continuing to urge the public to contact them for any sightings.

The Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter was used last week to search 5km either side of where the Tukituki River meets the Waipawa River. The Police National Dive Squad was also at the scene but due to recent thunderstorms the river has been too high for the dive squad to perform a search.

■ Anyone with information or sightings of Koziol or his vehicle, was urged to contact Hawke’s Bay police on (06) 831 0815.