Police said a rescue operation was launched after the fishing charter Francie overturned in the harbour, northwest of Auckland, about 3.30pm yesterday. Eleven people were on board.
Five bodies were recovered yesterday. Three other people on board the vessel were rescued and taken to North Shore Hospital.
Police this morning confirmed the bodies of two more people who were believed to have been on board were recovered early today.
Police and LandSAR recovered the body of one man about 1am on the shoreline, north of Muriwai Beach.
The body of a second man was found about an hour later, on the shoreline closer to South Head and Woodhill Forest.
The former owner of the Francie said last night the boat should not have been operating or attempting to cross the bar in the rough conditions yesterday - reported swells of more than 1.5m and heavy winds.
Lifeguards from the Muriwai surf club have been combing the beach this morning.
"We went out at 5am and we agreed with the police that we'll do a shoreline search," said lifeguard Tim Jago, a member of the search team.
"What we wanted to do was to pick up the bodies, if they were there, before the public started going out there."
Jago said there was still one missing person after two more bodies were recovered overnight.
Debris from the Francie had washed up as far south as 15km north of the Muriwai surf club.
"What we've seen is a lot of the boat debris on the dunes, there's a really clear line that stretches for 20km," Jago said.
"It's drifted a long way south, we'll talk to the police now but we've got a clear idea of where to look now at the next outgoing tide."
The search is taking place as strong winds making for choppy conditions.
MetService meteorologist April Clark said there would be gusts of wind around 50km/h, and swells of up to 2m were possible.
"A trough is moving over bringing cloud and northwesterly winds. There will be some gusts. They won't be that strong but they could affect the harbour."
Inspector Duncan Hall said yesterday that the first five bodies had been recovered from outside Kaipara Harbour.
Inquiries were being made into what caused the tragedy and how those on board ended up in the water.
Police had been told there were life jackets on board, but did not yet know if they were being worn.
The Francie - which is owned and skippered by local man Bill McNatty - was reported missing near the harbour's treacherous bar crossing.
The former skipper of the Francie, Rod Bridge, last night described it as an "excellent little boat", but said it should not have been attempting to cross the bar yesterday.
"It shouldn't have been out there. It was too rough ... it's a terrible thing."
