A fourth body has been found in a search and rescue operation off North Cape at the top of the North Island.
Photo: NZ Topo Map
The body was found in the water and retrieved by a vessel supporting the search operation.
Police say one person remains missing. Naval vessel HMNZS Taupō has arrived in the area to help maritime with the search.
Five people were rescued after a vessel activated its beacon at 8pm last night.
Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter trust said they were asked to join the search and rescue of a sunken vessel approximately 200 metres off North Cape.
A marine traffic website shows a fishing boat in the area.
A trust spokesperson said five people have been rescued.
They were winched off the boat to safety and were taken to Kaitaia Hospital in a stable condition. They were discharged from the hospital early this afternoon.
Search and Rescue said 300 square nautical miles off the North Cape is being scoured for the missing crew members.
Rescue Coordination Centre officer Nick Burt told Nine to Noon a Defence Force P3 Orion and a naval vessel were part of the search.
He said he believed the ship in distress was a charter vessel.
Burt said police have interviewed those who were rescued, and they have provided some useful information.
Bad weather was making the search dangerous but it eased slightly.
Burt said it was unclear whether the emergency locator beacon that was activated was on the vessel or with any survivors in the water.
Maritime New Zealand, which is leading the operation, said helicopters were assisting search vessels and police were searching on the ground near Te Pua in the Far North.
The Coastguard were also asked to respond but yesterday said conditions were too dangerous.
The Defence Force and the Whangārei rescue helicopter have been involved.
MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the areas of Kaipara, Far North, Whangārei and Rodney.
A severe thunderstorm watch is already in force for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula.
Helicopters are assisting in a major search and rescue operation in Northland. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas