Supplied
Toru Mizokawa, 49, went missing in the Manawatū River on August 7.
A body found at the Manawatū Estuary is likely to be a fisherman who went missing in Palmerston North six weeks ago.
Toru Mizokawa was believed to be fly-fishing on the Aokautere side of the Manawatū River, off Pinfold Rd, in Palmerston North on August 7.
A member of the public was birdwatching when they spotted the body on the estuary’s mud flats near Foxton Beach about midday on Saturday.
Fonterra director of category, strategy and innovation Mark Piper said the 49-year-old, who worked in Fonterra’s research and development team, was nice, smart, had a cheeky sense of humour, and touched the lives of people across the business.
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WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
A member of the public was watching the birds when they spotted the dead body.
“Anyone who knew him, liked him. It’s a big loss. But not just as a staff member, a loss as a friend and a colleague.”
Piper had known Mizokawa for more than 16 years. The pair worked together at Fonterra’s branch in Japan, before Mizokawa moved to Palmerston North in February last year.
“When we met, he spoke next to no English and I spoke next to no Japanese. I still speak next to no Japanese, and he speaks great English. So one of us was smarter than the other,” Piper said, with a chuckle.
He said Mizokawa loved living in Manawatū, and was out and about in nature most weekends.
Supplied
Police recover a body that washed up at the Manawatū Estuary at midday on Saturday.
If he wasn’t at the river fishing, he was hiking. He loved fishing, and Piper said it was comforting that he died doing what he loved.
The Fonterra research and development team had about 350 people in it, but Mizokawa’s team was a small unit of 10.
Piper and some colleagues had been down to the Manawatū Estuary, near Foxton Beach, to pay their respects, and get a feel for where he was found.
Dozens of searchers had scoured the river and coast, including Search and Rescue, the Police National Dive Squad and Horizons Regional Council staff.
Piper said the empathy and support of everyone involved had been amazing, and made all the difference.
Mizokawa’s wife remained in Japan, and was in daily communication with the Fonterra team.
Piper said she had time to process the loss, and was doing okay. She was glad he had been found.
She was trying to organise travel to Palmerston North to meet some of his friends and connect with the 18 months of his life she had been hearing about from afar.
Fonterra would organise a service in the coming week.
WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
The body washed up in the estuary, about half a kilometre from the mouth of the Manawatū River.
Manawatū Search and Rescue officer in charge Andrew Brooke said a member of the public had been watching the birds with binoculars at the lookout platform on Dawick St, when they spotted the body.
He believed the person was Mizokawa, but said an autopsy and the coroner’s investigation would provide confirmation.
Mizokawa was reported missing on August 9 by work colleagues when he didn’t show up to work.
It was believed he fell into the river when fishing.
Brooke said the body washed up in the estuary, about half a kilometre down from the mouth of the river.
“It has flooded four or five times since he went missing. It’s hard to tell where he has been for the last six weeks,” Brooke said.
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