Three people have been found alive after their boat sunk near Waitangi overnight.
Coastguard said its National Operations Centre was alerted that a vessel that had sunk off Wairoa Bay in the Bay of Islands by police at about 7am Friday.
It appeared the vessel sank at about 3am, Coastguard said.
"One person managed to swim to shore and raise the alarm, while two others were missing in the water."
Five volunteers from the Bay of Islands Coastguard were immediately sent to the scene to begin the search, alongside a Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Coastguard said.
At about 8.30am, the second person was found safely washed ashore.
Shortly after, the helicopter crew located the third person, who was winched to safety, it said.
Hato Hone St John confirmed it sent an ambulance and air rescue helicopter to the scene near Waitangi Mountain Bike Park after it was notified at about 6.50am.
Crews assessed all three patients at the scene, it said.
One was in a moderate condition, with two others in a minor condition.
Investigations remain underway to find out the details of what happened.
A local earlier on Sunday said search and rescue crews were combing the coastline near the Brampton reef.
The resident said they had seen a helicopter in the air and the Coastguard boat out on the water.
The rescue comes less than two weeks after a large scale search and rescue exercise in the same area.
The exercise involved the premise that a cruise ship carrying 50 people had struck the reef and five people were dead.
The exercise involved search and rescue volunteers, Coastguard, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, the Red Cross and the Rescue Coordination Centre.
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz |  |
