Police have formally suspended the search for a child who went missing in Auckland's Manukau Harbour after a boating accident earlier this month.
On November 6, a boat with five people on board capsized in Manukau Harbour near Clarks Beach. Two people made it back to shore, a third was rescued from the water and another was found dead.
A search and rescue operation was launched to find the fifth person, a 10-year-old student named Ryder Ferregel from Sandspit Road School.
Ryder's mum Gemma Ferregel died in the accident.
A police spokesperson said the operation involved extensive searching with support from Search and Rescue, volunteers, Coastguard and the Police Eagle Helicopter. But despite these efforts, Ryder has not been found.
"The past fortnight has been incredibly difficult for the friends and family of all of those involved in this incident," a police spokesperson said.
"They have lost a mother and a son in this incident, and our sympathies remain with them at this time."
The family continue to request privacy while they grieve, the spokesperson said.
The police said they would like to acknowledge the wider community for their support and offers of assistance in the search.
A Givealittle page was created last week by the family's friend, which has raised over $80,000 to help keep the search going for Ryder.
Manukau Harbour is known to catch out boaties. This time last year three people died after their boat capsized near the Manukau Heads sand bar, considered to be one of the most dangerous in New Zealand.
A number of investigations into the circumstances of the boating accident remain ongoing, including an investigation on behalf of the Coroner and one led by Maritime New Zealand.
