CenterHigh
Radio New ZealandNews report · Oct 20, 7:53 AM
Search underway for man in kayak who went into the sea at Waihi Beach
Anyone who has seen the man or his kayak is urged to call 111.
← Today's headlines
3 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 3h ago
Still Watching
Search underway for man in kayak who went into the sea at Waihi Beach
Stuff (New Zealand) and The New Zealand Herald describe the same event in different terms.
1 Left2 Center0 Right
STILL WATCHING
As of October 20, 2026 at 8:46 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened Anyone who has seen the man or his kayak is urged to call 111.
The headline split The left frames it as "Search underway for man in kayak who went to sea at Waihi Beach". The center frames it as "Search operation under way for kayaker missing at Waihi Beach".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 3 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium
3 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.
Framing confidenceModerate
62/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftSearch underway for man in kayak who went to sea at Waihi Beach
Stuff (New Zealand) · Center-left · News report
CenterSearch underway for man in kayak who went into the sea at Waihi Beach
Radio New Zealand · Center · News report
Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.
Optics keeps watching for pickup.
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Stuff (New Zealand)News report · Oct 20, 8:46 AM
Search underway for man in kayak who went to sea at Waihi Beach
A search is underway for a man who went out to sea at Waihi Beach on Tuesday morning, but has not returned.
CenterHigh
The New Zealand HeraldNews report · Oct 20, 8:45 AM
Search operation under way for kayaker missing at Waihi Beach
Police say the paddler went into the water earlier today but has not been seen since.
Details62/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 3 sources
62/99 Wording GapMedium confidence3 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Oct 20, 7:53 AM: Radio New Zealand joined the source map.
Oct 20, 8:45 AM: The New Zealand Herald joined the source map.
Oct 20, 8:46 AM: Stuff (New Zealand) joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 62/99 and story health is live match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.