The man was found in the water, holding onto his paddleboard. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
A plane had to be flown over Lake Taupō to help find a paddleboarder seven hours after he entered the water.
The man in his 60s had been blown 5 kilometres out over the lake, police said in a statement.
He was last seen paddling off Waitetoko Beach, heading towards Motutaiko Island about 11am on Tuesday.
At 3.50pm, the man's sister contacted police with concerns, and officers, the harbourmaster, as well as Coastguard volunteers for Taupō and Tūrangi started working to locate him.
Because the man had no lifejacket, no personal beacon and no phone, a decision was made to get a plane in the air to help find him.
A plane helped direct the harbourmaster and Coastguard to him and he was taken to shore. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said it was a "classic" example of the unexpected happening.
"We found him about 6pm, five kilometres from his departure point, in the water holding on to the back of his board."
The plane helped direct the harbourmaster and Coastguard to him and he was taken to shore.
Shepherd said he could have "easily" died in the lake.
"Because of the wind, he would've been blown right the way across the lake to the shoreline about 12km away … he wouldn't have been able to stop it."
The man was found seven hours after entering the water. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
Anyone entering any body of water needed to take precautions, Shepherd said.
"At the least, the bare minimum you need to do is wear a lifejacket on the water.
"Everybody thinks 'it won't happen to me', when they should be thinking 'what if it does?'"