Search for missing boatie suspended

The search for missing boatie Shaun Hogarth has been suspended.

Western Bay of Plenty tactical response manager Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said the search today turned up nothing.

"The navy divers with their sonar equipment have covered a large area between Omokoroa Peninsula, Motuhoa and Matakana islands but unfortunately they have analysed their data and we haven't found any points of interest that we need to dive.

The search will be suspended over the weekend and reassessed next week, he said.

Mr Wright-St Clair said police would be broadcasting over marine channels during the weekend to encourage boaties to report anything of interest they see.

"The positive for us is that Labour Weekend is the first official boating weekend and we're expecting a lot of pleasure craft to be on the water," he said."

We just ask that people out in the harbour keep an eye out. There will be more resource than we could ever hope to put out there ourselves."

The 23-year-old went missing when a boat carrying four people flipped near Matakana Island in Tauranga Harbour on Tuesday night.

Three men made it to shore and one - 22-year-old Liam Kane - raised the alarm before vanishing.

Mr Wright-St Clair said police were still appealing for Mr Kane to come forward as he may have valuable information that would help with the search.