Police Identify Indian Fisherman Ferzil Babu After Remains Found on Coppermine Island, New Zealand.

Human remains discovered on a remote island off Northland's coast have been formally identified as those of missing Indian fisherman Ferzil Babu.

“Human remains discovered on a remote island off the Northland coast have been formally identified as those of missing fisherman Ferzil Babu, who disappeared during a fishing trip nearly two years ago”

The Australia Today

The identification ended an almost two-year search that began when he vanished during a fishing trip in May 2024.

The Australia Today

The remains were found on December 20, 2025, on Coppermine Island (Mauipane), located east of Whangārei.

A staff member from the New Zealand Department of Conservation first alerted authorities to the discovery.

Police confirmed the identification through forensic examination by specialists from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.

The assessment involved pathologists, anthropologists, and scientists who established the remains belonged to Ferzil Babu.

He had been missing since May 1, 2024, after going rock fishing at The Gap, a well-known fishing spot at Taiharuru.

Ferzil Babu, a 34-year-old Indian national, had moved to New Zealand in mid-2023 shortly after marrying his wife.

The couple welcomed a baby son during their time in the country.

The Times of India

He was fishing with his companion Sarath Kumar, a 37-year-old registered nurse working in the emergency department at Whangārei Hospital.

The pair failed to return home on the night of May 1, 2024.

Emergency services were alerted after their vehicle and belongings were located near the shoreline at Whangārei Heads.

Sarath Kumar was found in the water several days later by the police dive squad.

Searches for Ferzil Babu continued for months without success.

The fate of the missing fisherman remained uncertain until the recent discovery on the protected island.

The extensive search operation for Ferzil Babu involved multiple agencies and utilized various methods.

“Human remains discovered on a remote island off the Northland coast have been formally identified as those of missing fisherman Ferzil Babu, who disappeared during a fishing trip nearly two years ago”

The Australia Today

These included shoreline patrols, drones, and comprehensive area searches.

Efforts were significantly hampered by challenging environmental conditions.

Authorities reported that poor sea conditions and strong easterly swells made the search particularly difficult.

Adverse weather prevented thorough coverage of the coastline and surrounding areas.

The local Malayalee community described the incident as a devastating loss.

Members rallied to support the affected families through fundraising and community assistance efforts.

Rabin Ranji, secretary of the Whangārei Malayalee Association, commented on the tragedy's impact on the community.

Coppermine Island is part of the Hen and Chicken Islands group located approximately 40 kilometres south-east of Whangārei.

The island has been protected as a nature reserve since the early 1900s.

The Times of India

Its protected status means landing there requires Department of Conservation permission and strict biosecurity measures.

This makes it an unusual location for human remains to be found.

The identification process was conducted by specialists from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.

These specialists utilized forensic science techniques to positively identify the remains.

Following the identification, police officers informed the missing fisherman's family.

This brought closure to a nearly two-year ordeal that had gripped both the local community and the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.