Members of Lucas' family, volunteers and police again searched the area east of Graham Rd in Inner Kaiti looking for the four-year-old. The police dive squad has been searching two areas upstream and downstream of the area near Lucas' grandmother's house, where he went missing.
Gisborne Area Commander Inspector Sam Aberahama said today's search covered some areas that had already been searched previously and included properties where no-one was home.
"We are covering an extensive search area in a bid to find Lucas and that search area may be extended as time progresses," he said.
On Tuesday when Lucas went missing, his grandmother found his bike at the top of a pathway leading down to a river jetty. She also saw a chippy packet in the river that she believed was the same as the one she had given Lucas before he went missing.
Mr Aberahama said those two pieces of information prompted a search of the river.
"While there has been a focus on the Waimata River, we are keeping an open mind as to where Lucas might have wandered off to. There are numerous places he could be and the river is only one option we are looking at. We are asking residents again to check their properties inside and out for any likely hiding places which could attract a child. Lucas is a very inquisitive and curious child and he could have explored any number of places."
Police also want to speak to two kayakers who were seen on the Waimata River in the Graham Rd area on Tuesday afternoon. A resident of nearby Gardner Place has told police she saw the two male kayakers on the river at around 3pm on Tuesday. Anyone with information about them should contact police.
Police were not discounting the possibility of foul play in the disappearance of Lucas.
"We are treating this incident as a missing person investigation. That type of investigation encompasses any potential aspects of foul play or a criminal element. It's an option we must consider.
"But at this stage, we have nothing to indicate that there is foul play involved," Mr Aberahama said.
The search for Lucas will continue over the weekend. At this stage there are no plans to downgrade the search.
END
Released by Kris McGehan
Eastern Police District communications manager
Mobile 027 222 3638
Email: kris.mcgehan@police.govt.nz