Man dies in incident at Omanawa Falls in western Bay of Plenty

One person was killed in an incident at Omanawa Falls in the western Bay of Plenty this afternoon.

A police spokeswoman said the body of a man was located around 4 p.m. Death has been referred to the coroner.

Police were called to Omanawa Rd around 2.30pm after a report that someone had scaled a cliff and did not return to their group, police previously said.

“There is some concern that they have fallen.”

He said then that the rescue operation would include a rescue helicopter and firefighters, as well as police officers.

A reporter at the scene said a rescue helicopter was flying and that an ambulance, two fire trucks and some police cars were present.

The Bay of Plenty Times previously contacted police, other emergency services and the Tauranga City Council, which had a park ranger on site, this afternoon to learn more about the incident.

A police spokesman said officers were on the scene and more information would be provided when available. Others contacted inquiries referred to the police.

The steep public access to the falls has long been closed and people have been warned to stay away, but authorities have struggled to keep locals and tourists away despite fences and warning signs.

Their efforts have not been helped by numerous posts on social media promoting the beauty of the dangerous place.

Student Kishore Kumar Arvindan, 27, drowned in the pool at the base of the falls in 2018 and over the years several people have been injured trying to access the falls, some seriously.

This summer, the cultural ambassadors – kaitiaki – of the local hapū Ngāti Hangarau have posted themselves at the entrance of the falls in hopes of warning people.

They have turned away dozens, but have said people were still coming in when they weren’t there.

The hapū is also working with the Tauranga City Council and Tourism Bay of Plenty on a nearly $ 4 million plan to make access safe and eventually reopen the falls to the public, which is in the design stage.