The boat belonging to a fisherman reported missing near Whangapoua on the Coromandel peninsula has been located.
Whangapoua Beach on the Coromandel peninsula. Photo: 123RF
At 2pm on Christmas Day a private vessel came across the missing boat named Tubby approximately 24 nautical miles off the coast of Whitianga, police said.
No one was located on board and the boat is in the process of being recovered. The boat has been described as a a white coloured 6m-long 'Mac' centre console plastic boat with no top.
The search operation for the man, aged in his 50s, continues this afternoon.
A Coastguard fixed-wing plane and Coastguard vessels from Whitianga and Aotea / Great Barrier Island are involved.
The man was reported to have launched from Whangapoua boat ramp about 9am on Friday.
He was expected back on Friday afternoon but failed to return.
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.