NZ's North Island hit by heavy rain; search for missing student paused

WELLINGTON – New Zealand rescue teams have suspended their search for a schoolboy who went missing on Tuesday while caving with his classmates and teachers, as heavy rain and thunderstorms cause flash flooding and landslides across the upper North Island.

New Zealand police Superintendent Tony Hill said in a statement that one person was missing at the Abbey Caves, near Whangarei, after a group of 15 high school students and two adults got into difficulty. The remaining 16 have been accounted for.

Local newspaper The Northern Advocate said the student was missing inside one of the caves, which is described as having a canyon-like feel.

It was not clear how the boy disappeared, but police, fire and emergency rescue crews searched for several hours in vain before suspending efforts as darkness fell.

Police rescue teams suspended operations at 5pm on Tuesday (1pm in Singapore) after an all-day search of the area, which was hit by heavy rain throughout the day.

The search resumes at first light.

“Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the unaccounted for student,” said Supt Hill in a statement. “The school is also being supported by the Ministry of Education’s Traumatic Incident Team.”

Police said family liaison officers and victim support had been assigned to assist the boy’s family as they faced a long overnight wait for news.

New Zealand is approaching the austral winter, and nighttime temperatures are expected to dip to 16 deg C with rainfall expected to ease.

“This is a tragic incident and we understand many will be impacted by what has happened today,” Supt Hill said.

“Our thoughts are with the ‘whanau’ (family) of the missing child, as well as all those involved in the group outing and the school.”

School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said the ordeal had been “hugely upsetting for all concerned”.

But amid anger and recriminations about why the group had chosen to go out in potentially treacherous conditions, she urged parents to be patient in a school Facebook post.

“In time we will seek to understand how this situation occurred, but for now I ask that we stay united,” she said.

Rainfall is wreaking havoc across the region, with a number of main roads closed.

In the country’s largest city Auckland, schools have been evacuated, roads and parks are flooded, and people have been told to be prepared to leave homes if flash flooding occurs.

A local state of emergency has been declared and an evacuation centre has been opened.

“Auckland is experiencing widespread flooding and torrential rain. Please take care and follow advice,” said the city’s mayor, Mr Wayne Brown.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to drench the region into the evening and potentially through to midnight.

Auckland experienced serious flooding in January that killed four people, and then in February Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage across much of the North Island and left at least 11 people dead.

New Zealand Treasury estimates the cost of those weather events at between NZ$9 billion (S$7.6 billion) and NZ$14.5 billion. REUTERS, AFP