Hopes Fade as Search for Missing Swedish National at Mt Maunganui Enters Third Day
By Lions Roar Aotearoa News
MOUNT MAUNGANUI, NEW ZEALAND (Saturday, January 24, 2026) — Emergency services have resumed a large-scale search operation at Mount Maunganui today as a 26-year-old Swedish citizen remains “unaccounted for” after disappearing in the water earlier this week.
The search, which has now entered its third day, involves Police, Surf Life Saving crews, and the Coastguard, focusing on the challenging coastline around the base of Mauao.
🌊 The Disappearance
The man, whose identity has not yet been officially released pending notification of all family members in Sweden, was last seen on Thursday afternoon.
- The Incident: Witnesses reported seeing a person in distress in the surf near the popular leisure destination. Despite an immediate response from lifeguards, the individual was lost to sight.
- Environmental Factors: Search efforts have been hampered by the same “region of instability” currently battering the North Island. Significant swells and strong southwesterly winds have made the shoreline search particularly treacherous for divers and small craft.
🚁 Mobilizing the Search
The search effort has escalated into a multi-agency operation:
- Aerial Surveillance: A Police Eagle helicopter and drones have been scanning the coastline from above, looking for any sign of the missing man.
- Water Rescue: Local Surf Life Saving clubs have deployed IRBs (Inflatable Rescue Boats) to search the rocky outcrops around the mountain’s base.
- Land Teams: LandSAR (Land Search and Rescue) teams are patrolling the base track of Mauao in case the individual managed to reach the shore at a remote point.
📊 Search Operation Status: Day 3
| Detail | Status Update |
| Missing Person | 26-year-old Swedish Male |
| Last Seen | Thursday, Jan 22, near Mt Maunganui Beach |
| Search Area | Base of Mauao and surrounding coastline |
| Conditions | High swell, 100km/h wind gusts in the region |
| Agencies Involved | NZ Police, Coastguard, Surf Life Saving, LandSAR |
💔 Community Support and Diplomacy
The Swedish Consulate has been notified of the situation and is providing support to the man’s travelling companions, who remain at the scene. Local residents have also gathered at the base of the mountain to offer support and hold vigils as the community waits for news.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man during this incredibly difficult time,” a Police spokesperson said. “We are doing everything we can, but the weather conditions today are making the task very difficult.”
