A 47-year-old man was swept away by the Mahurangi River on Wednesday while traveling with his nephew.
The man and his nephew reportedly both entered the river. The man pushed his nephew towards a branch, which allowed the nephew to reach land. The man was subsequently unable to exit the river.
The man's wife expressed to RNZ that she maintains hope for her husband's survival. She cited his strong personality and experience as a fisherman and swimmer in Kiribati.
Police and the nephew informed the wife of the incident. The couple, along with their four children, had moved to New Zealand in 2023.