Police and coastguard teams are searching for a fisherman who has not been since yesterday near Whangapoua, Coromandel Peninsula.
(File image) Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers
In a statement, police sid the man left in his boat from Whangapoua boat ramp about 9am yesterday and was expected to return that afternoon.
The missing boat, named Tubby, is described as a white coloured 6m-long 'Mac' centre console plastic boat with no top.
The search commenced yesterday and involved Coastguard vessels, a Coastguard fixed-wing plane and the Auckland-based Westpac Rescue 3 helicopter.
More are joining the search operation this morning, including a Police Eagle helicopter and Coastguard vessels from Whitianga and Great Barrier Island.
Anyone who has information about sightings of the boat from 9am yesterday, or who finds any items of interest that may be related, is asked to call 111 and quote event file number P04906827.