Man “Vanishes” after clearing security at Auckland airport?

Authorities are searching for 36-year-old Kory-Dean Wirihana, who disappeared from Auckland Airport after checking in for a flight to Christchurch on Friday(April 18) morning. He cleared security but did not board his plane, prompting urgent appeals from both police and his family.

Wirihana was scheduled to attend a netball tournament in Christchurch. According to his family, he last made contact around 4 a.m. on Friday (April 18). His phone and luggage were found and handed into the airport's lost property office. His car had been stolen weeks earlier, leaving him without personal transportation.

"He literally disappeared from the airport," a family member wrote on social media. They expressed concern for Wirihana's mental health, noting he had been struggling following the recent loss of his partner. "Come home bro," the post read.


Police have described Wirihana as being approximately 178 cm tall with a thin build. They urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately by calling 111 and referencing file number 250418/7495.