Police have named a 34-year-old Auckland man missing and presumed drowned off a Whangarei beach.
He is Alexy Ivanov, who was last seen heading into the water at Uretiti Beach about 5pm Wednesday afternoon.
Staff at the Department of Conservation campground called police when they saw Mr Ivanov's clothes and car were still there an hour later, and there was no sign of him.
Searchers are using quad bikes and a four wheel drive to search the shoreline and the police Eagle helicopter is flying over the long beach.
However, police say an algal bloom is hampering visibility south of Uretiti.
