An Albert Town resident noticed the four in three inflatables in the Deans Bank area just after 7.30pm last night, Queenstown Lakes District Harbourmaster Marty Black said.
"He was concerned for their safety because not one of them was wearing a lifejacket, so he called me. I contacted a staff member who lives nearby, and he picked them up just above the Albert Town bridge."
Mr Black said that when the three women and one man were summoned off the river, they all said they had no idea that they should have been wearing lifejackets.
The incident comes less than a week after two tourists were fined for kayaking on Lake Wakatipu without lifejackets.
Mr Black said he hoped the news would help other people understand that everyone had to wear a lifejacket at all times, if they were on the water in a boat of any kind that was under 6m in length.
