Missing Auckland man Kory-Dean Wirihana found safe after disappearing from airport, family says he's disturbed after his husband's death

Kory-Dean Wirihana, who had vanished from Auckland Airport on Friday (April 18, 2025) after checking in for his flight to Christchurch but not boarding, was found safe in the Auckland region. His family had expressed concern for his mental health following the death of his husband and reported him missing after last hearing from him at 4am on Friday.

His phone was later handed into lost property at Auckland Airport. A family member announced Wirihana's sighting and safety on Sunday (April 20) evening. The police also confirmed he had been located and thanked the public for their assistance.

A family member wrote that he had been sighted and is safe at about 7.30pm on Sunday. “Please respect our privacy as we navigate the next steps as a family. “Thank you all for sharing and helping with finding him,” they said.


A massive search operation had been launched after Wirihana checked in for his domestic flight at Auckland Airport, cleared security, but never boarded the plane.

A family member posted on social media that they last heard from the 36-year-old at 4am on Friday.
The family had expressed concern for Wirihana’s mental health. They said he had been struggling following the recent loss of his husband.

With no phone, no transportation and no confirmed sightings since the early hours of Friday morning, his family believed he had “literally disappeared from the airport”.

Police earlier echoed the family’s concerns and appealed to the public for help locating him.

“Kory was due to catch a flight yesterday morning but did not get on the plane. His family and police are seriously concerned for his welfare and want to know he’s safe.”