A search is underway for a person believed to have been aboard a pleasure boat that was found capsized off the Tauranga coast.
The search is taking place off the coast of Tauranga. Photo: 123rf.com
A spotter plane working for a commercial fishing company raised the alarm after seeing an overturned pleasure boat at 3pm yesterday.
Police say the plane and a rescue helicopter carried out an extensive search in good visibility around the boat, which was two nautical miles south of Mayor Island, but did not see anyone.
Inspector Kevin Taylor said police were are in contact with the family of the person thought to have been on the boat.
He said helicopter pilots and boat owners had volunteered to help in the search today, and the boat was being brought back to Tauranga.