Hundreds join search for Kaizer, 5, missing in Tiniroto area near Gisborne

The search continues for a 5-year-old autistic boy missing in a rural area of Gisborne overnight. 

Head of the search effort, Detective Sergeant Wayne Beattie, said around 50 New Zealand Search and Rescue personnel and 200 volunteers had searched extensively around the area and were now broadening it. 

Beattie said the family were understandably upset and concerned. 

The autistic status of the boy meant he might not be making himself known to searchers or could be hiding from them, Beattie said. 

Hundreds of people have joined the search after Kaizer was reported missing from a residential address in Tiniroto. He was believed to have gone missing at about 2.15pm on Sunday. 

Multiple search teams are on the ground and search and rescue dogs and a helicopter have been deployed. 

Locals are posting on social media saying they are using dirt bikes, cars, and horses in the search for the 5-year-old. A woman said she had walked for many kilometres along the river bank, checked “every single hollow tree” and “every nook and cranny”. 

She was asking locals to return back to the wool shed to mark off areas that had already been checked. 

“We are about to head back again - hopefully we find him before the cold [and] rain set in.” 

Tairāwhiti area commander Inspector Darren Paki requested that only those with search and rescue skills and experience come forward to help in the search. 

“Police would like to recognise the overwhelming outpouring of support from the community, with many people turning up wanting to help. 

“We appreciate there are many people keen to help get Kaizer home to his family. If you have those skills and are available to help, please phone Gisborne station on 06 869 0200 or come into the front counter.” 

The search was focused on the area around Tiniroto Rd in the vicinity of Bushy Knoll Rd. 

Tiniroto Rd resident Jenny Law told RNZ the community was “gutted”. 

She did not know Kaizer, but her two sons were out searching and she was preparing food for the search party. 

"Just so sad. It’s tragic. As you do in a small community, we all rally around ... not many people may know them, it doesn’t really matter. It’s a kid, a 4- or 5-year-old kid. 

"We’ve got to find him.” 

Hundreds of people were out looking, Law told RNZ. 

"I did see a couple of the searchers that were on the road as I came down, and they said that they have searched absolutely every nook and cranny that they can possibly find around the house. 

"They’ve just got to widen their search area now and see if they can find the poor boy.” 

The terrain was hilly and rugged, and the creeks full of water after lots of rain, but the community would not give up, she said. 

"[I’m] just hoping that he’s snuggled up somewhere under a tree or somewhere warm. He’s got to be found today.” 

RNZ reported Kaizer was autistic and lived on a remote sheep and cattle station, with family and friends continuing their search through the night after the official search was called off around midnight. 

Some 200 people joined the search which resumed at first light. 

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said there was a huge mobilisation of Gisborne residents assisting with the search. She said the community banded together in situations like these and everyone was holding their breath for Kaizer’s safe return to his family. 

She said it was a distressing time for the whānau and she thanked everyone for trying to help where they could. 

People from as far away as Tolaga Bay – about 114km north – travelled by mini-van to Tiniroto to join the search for the missing boy. 

The Hastings-based Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter is also involved, using its onboard thermal imaging equipment. 

The chopper arrived at the site shortly before 8am and conducted an initial 45-minute search before heading to the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust’s Gisborne hangar to refuel. It has since rejoined the search. 

“The search has recommenced early this morning and will include members of Police Search and Rescue, Land Search and Rescue volunteers, and members of the public,” police said in a statement. 

“Anyone who sees Kaizer is asked to please call 111 immediately, referencing event number P059617641. We would also ask that Tiniroto residents please check their properties and any outbuildings this morning.” 

Temperatures in the Gisborne area dropped down to around 3C last night, according to MetService. 

“He was wearing a green hunting and fishing long-sleeve top, a nappy, no shoes and may be wearing black pants with skeleton bones at the front,” police said on social media last night. 

Anyone with information is asked to call 111 and reference event number P059617641. 

Local farmer Alex Campbell told RNZ a missing child was every family’s and every community’s “worst nightmare”. 

He was notified of the boy’s disappearance late on Sunday afternoon and there was a scramble from the local community to mobilise and search where they could into the night. The terrain had “everything imaginable” – including waterways, steep hills and forestry. 

It was also like “a needle in a haystack”, Campbell said. 

Search and rescue was back this morning and ground teams had started searching again – with every farmer in the area also out helping. Campbell said he believed there was hope in finding the boy if he was on land.