A search for eight people thought to have gone missing in heavy South Otago seas on Sunday has been suspended, with speculation growing the group may have gone to ground fearing a hefty search and rescue bill.
Emergency services reactivated a search off the Kaka Point coastline about 7am yesterday, but suspended the operation about 10.30am after failing to find any trace of the group or their craft.
Police are continuing their investigation, which is focused on identifying the people involved to confirm they are safe.
The man who first raised the alarm believes the group may be keeping a low profile to avoid being billed for the cost of the extended search.
In a statement, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand said the operation was suspended after an extensive search.
Search and rescue officer John Ashby said a fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter and fishing vessel had been involved in the search, which had covered an area of about 2000sq km.
A helicopter search of the shoreline between Nugget Point and Taiaroa Head yesterday found no trace of anyone or any craft in difficulty, Mr Ashby said.
"If any new information does come to light this will be considered and, if warranted, the search may be resumed," he said.
Clutha police sub-area controller Senior Sergeant Richard Whitmore, of Balclutha, said: "We are appealing for members of the party involved or people who may have information about any group of people who planned to kayak in the Kaka Point area to contact their nearest police station."
Kaka Point resident Barry Bethune, who first raised the alarm on Sunday, said he had received "positive feedback" from several other residents who also saw the group of four kayaks and four people in a rubber dinghy head out off Kaka Point, 23km southeast of Balclutha.
"Others saw them out there, but it was horrendous out there and just absolutely ridiculous that anyone was out that far in those conditions."
The long-time search and rescue volunteer said he had resigned from the organisation, but still kept a close eye on the coastline.
He had no hesitation alerting emergency services after fearing the group was, or would soon be, in trouble.
Conditions were poor with strong winds and a heavy swell.
He was mystified as to what may have happened to the group, but said there had been reports of a support vehicle with a trailer and roof racks, capable of holding kayaks, in the area before leaving Kaka Point on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Bethune believes the group, if safe, will be keeping low because they may face a hefty bill.
Neither police nor the rescue centre (which took over co-ordination of the search from police) had tallied the cost of the search yesterday, but keeping a helicopter in the air for more than eight hours, as well as a fixed wing aircraft for several hours, would cost tens of thousand of dollars.
Dunedin-Clutha emergency response manager Inspector Alistair Dickie said it was unusual for people to be charged for search and rescue operations.
At this stage, the police priority was making sure the people involved were safe.
