Kevin Belling Search Update: Missing Farmer Investigation

A 62-year-old farmer steps out of sight on his own land and doesn’t come back. Since Kevin Belling vanished from his Motu Rimu farm near Kapuka, New Zealand, on 9 January 2026, police have methodically checked phone records, bank accounts, and every corner of the property—but he remains missing.

Days since disappearance: 135+ ·
Last seen: 9 January 2026 ·
Age at disappearance: 62 ·
Location: Motu Rimu farm, Kapuka, NZ ·
Searches: Property, phone records, bank accounts, waterways, effluent ponds ·
Status: Still missing, investigation active

The following table summarizes key details of the case.

What is the latest Kevin Belling search update?

As of early May 2026, New Zealand Police (official law enforcement) confirmed that extensive searches on Kevin Belling’s property have been completed but he has not been located. The investigation remains active, and police are publicly appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Police continue to appeal for information

• Detective Sergeant John Kean stated that phone records and bank accounts have been checked but yielded no clues about his whereabouts (Newstalk ZB (national radio)).
• Police have asked the public to check rural properties for any sign of Kevin (1News (national broadcaster)).

Drone and foot search teams deployed

• Land Search and Rescue assisted with a ground search using foot teams and a drone (Otago Daily Times (regional news)).
• The drone covered the Caeser Road property and surrounding terrain (1News (national broadcaster)).

Effluent ponds and waterways searched

In a later phase, Southland Police (official update) announced they were proceeding to examine effluent ponds and other waterways on the Motu Rimu farm. These searches are part of a systematic forensic approach in rural missing-person cases, where water features often hold critical evidence.

Bottom line: Kevin Belling remains missing after a thorough, multi-phase search. For the police, every conventional tool has been applied without a breakthrough. For the public, the call to action is clear: check your property and report anything unusual.

Where was Kevin Belling last seen?

Kevin Belling was last seen at his Motu Rimu farm in the small rural locality of Kapuka, about 25 kilometres east of Invercargill in New Zealand’s Southland region. The property is a working dairy farm on Caeser Road.

Last seen at Motu Rimu farm in Kapuka

• Police confirmed he was last sighted on the farm on Friday 9 January 2026 (New Zealand Police).
• He was reported missing nine days later, on 18 January 2026, by family or associates (Newstalk ZB (national radio)).

Date of disappearance: 9 January 2026

The date is critical because it establishes a narrow window for forensic timeline work. 1News (national broadcaster) reported that the gap between disappearance and report is standard for a person living alone on a rural property, but it also complicates the search—by the time police were alerted, potential evidence had 9 days to degrade.

The pattern: the nine-day delay remains a critical factor in the investigation.

What searches have police conducted for Kevin Belling?

Southland Police have executed a multi-layered search strategy covering physical terrain, digital records, and financial trails. The operation has drawn on local officers, Land Search and Rescue, and specialist drone teams.

Property search and Land Search and Rescue involvement

• Police Search and Rescue teams, along with Land Search and Rescue, conducted “extensive searches” on Kevin Belling’s property (Otago Daily Times (regional news)).
• A later phase focused specifically on the Caeser Road property in Kapuka (New Zealand Police).

Phone records and bank accounts reviewed

• Detective Sergeant John Kean told Newstalk ZB (national radio) that police had examined Belling’s phone and bank records but found no hint of his possible location.
• This digital check is a standard but crucial step—phone records can show last known movements, while bank activity can indicate whether someone left voluntarily or was prevented from accessing funds.

Effluent ponds and waterways examined

In early May 2026, Southland Police (official press release) confirmed they had extended the search to include effluent ponds and waterways on the Motu Rimu farm. These are typical features of a dairy operation and represent a logical, methodical expansion of the grid search.

Bottom line: Police have, in effect, performed a complete investigative sweep—ground, air, digital, and financial. For the community, the absence of results despite this thoroughness is deeply unsettling. For investigators, the next logical step is public tips.

Has Kevin Belling been found?

No. Kevin Belling has not been located, and the search on his property is complete. The investigation remains open.

Status: not found

• Police explicitly state: “We have not yet located Kevin” (New Zealand Police).
• Otago Daily Times reported that no clues were uncovered despite extensive efforts (Otago Daily Times (regional news)).

Investigation remains active

• Police continue to appeal for any information from the public (New Zealand Police).
• Anyone with details can call 105 with reference number 260118/6964, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (New Zealand Police).

These statements, spanning official releases and social media, show a consistent message: police have done everything they can physically and forensically, but they need public help.

For the community of Kapuka, the waiting is the hardest part. For investigators, the absence of physical evidence means the case remains open, with no clear next step but to keep asking. The implication is plain: without a witness or a new lead, Kevin Belling’s disappearance risks becoming one of those rural mysteries that stays unsolved.

Timeline

• 9 January 2026 – Kevin Belling last seen at Motu Rimu farm, Kapuka. (1News (national broadcaster))
• 18 January 2026 – Kevin Belling reported missing. (Otago Daily Times (regional news))
• January – April 2026 – Initial police investigation; phone and bank records reviewed. (Newstalk ZB (national radio))
• Late April / May 2026 – Land Search and Rescue conducts extensive property search with foot teams and drone. (New Zealand Police)
• 4 May 2026 – NZ Herald and other outlets report police are checking phone and bank records. (1News (national broadcaster))
• 5 May 2026 – Official police press release confirms searches on property complete; search extended to effluent ponds and waterways. (Southland Police (official update))

The pattern: each phase of the investigation has been methodical and public. Yet the timeline also reveals a growing gap between effort and resolution.

Quotes from investigators

“We have checked bank accounts and phone records, but nothing has shed any light on Kevin’s possible whereabouts.”

— Detective Sergeant John Kean, as reported by Newstalk ZB (national radio)

“Despite extensive searches, we have not yet located Kevin. We continue to appeal for anyone with information to contact us.”

— Southland Police, official press release New Zealand Police

“Foot search teams and a drone have been used to search the property. We are now moving to examine effluent ponds and waterways.”

— Southland Police, via Facebook Southland Police Facebook

“The search has been extended to waterways on the farm. Every available resource is being used.”

— Southland Police, via Instagram Southland Police Instagram

These statements, spanning official releases and social media, show a consistent message: police have done everything they can physically and forensically, but they need public help.

For more on similar cases, visit our NZ Police missing persons page.

For the community of Kapuka, the waiting is the hardest part. For investigators, the absence of physical evidence means the case remains open, with no clear next step but to keep asking. The implication is plain: without a witness or a new lead, Kevin Belling’s disappearance risks becoming one of those rural mysteries that stays unsolved.

Similar to the Michael Gaine investigation, this case shows how quickly a routine farming day can turn into a prolonged mystery.

Frequently asked questions