Three people have been rescued from a boat drifting in the Hauraki Gulf early this morning.
The three tourists took a small sailing cutter from Ostend on Waiheke Island about 5.30pm yesterday and were reported overdue at midnight.
Police boat Deodar and Coastguard began a search, but the boat was not found until after 4am.
Police maritime unit senior constable Garry Larsen said the drifting sailboat was seen by a fisherman, who alerted Deodar.
"We retrieved them and took them back to Waiheke," he said.
"They were probably a little bit worse for wear."
