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Source: ONE News
Two of the men who were in a boat that capsized in Tauranga Harbour last night have been charged with theft.
The men, aged 22 and 25, both made it to shore after the boat sank.
They will appear at Tauranga District Court on Friday.
Meanwhile search teams are continuing to look for 23-year-old Shaun Hogarth who hasn't been seen since the boat capsized.
Police are also still trying to locate 22-year-old Liam Kane who made it to shore but then disappeared.
Police say the four men went overboard at around 8pm and while three managed to swim to shore, Hogarth, from Tauranga, is unaccounted for.
Hogarth's family said in a statement this afternoon: "We're all together as a family and are hoping and praying that he's safe somewhere and will be found soon."
"We don't wish to say anything further at this stage and would ask that the media respect our need for privacy at this difficult time."
Police said the men appear to have taken a dinghy to go fishing. They said the group had their own outboard motor with them but none were experienced on the water.
Police are keen to locate Kane who has not been seen since raising the alarm with a member of the public.
"When Liam was seen on the shore last night he appeared to be in good health but it is important that we locate him, not only to check on his welfare, but to find out everything he knows about events last night," Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said.
"It could be that he has information about events that would assist those co-ordinating the search and help bring some answers to Shaun's family who are understandably very distressed."
Police are speaking with the other two, and are urging Kane, or anyone who knows where he is, to contact police.
Police confirmed today that the boat has been found and Hogarth's family is aware of this.
The vessel was discovered by the Mount Surf Club searching the waterways on an IRB. They located the aluminium dinghy upside down at the bottom of the cliffs between Matakana Point and Tahunamanu Point, directly north of Omokoroa Point where the men set off from last night.
Police said the full facts and circumstances which led to the
incident are still being established and the primary focus at this
stage is locating the man who was not seen to make his way to
shore.
Members of the Mount Surf Club and Omanu Surf Club are searching
the water on four inflatable rigid boats and all boaties in the
area have been asked to look out for the missing man.
"We are still hopeful that the missing man has made it ashore somewhere but the strong winds last night made for very poor conditions. The wind has eased a little this morning which will assist the searching," Wright-St Clair said.