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National | Missing Persons

Search for Khyzah: Body of missing Gisborne five-year-old found

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Police dive squad search a pond looking for missing boy Khyzah. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook

This article was first published by RNZ.

The body of a five-year-old boy missing near Gisborne has been found in a farm pond near his home.

Khyzah, went missing from his home in the rural Hangaroa district of Gisborne and had not been seen since about 2pm on Sunday.

Khyzah’s family have taken him home and have requested privacy to mourn.

Specialist search teams, rescue dogs, a helicopter and up to 300 people from the area were involved in searching for him.

An RNZ reporter at the scene said the pond was about 100 metres from the house.

The police dive squad spent about an hour searching before he was found.

Tai Rāwhiti area commander Inspector Darren Paki on Monday said there had been an “overwhelming outpouring of support from the community, with many people turning up wanting to help”.

Police are continuing the search this morning for 5-year-old Khyzah, who was reported missing yesterday afternoon from his Tiniroto, Gisborne, home. Photo: supplied / Police

This story has been updated to correctly name the five-year-old boy as Khyzah, not Kaizer.

- RNZ