Missing people found in Far North after boating accident.

At 0112 hours this morning Coastguard's Operations Centre was alerted by a land based informant of an overdue vessel on the east coast of the Far North with 3 people onboard.

Coastguard Radio issued an All Stations via the Marine VHF Radio asking for any sightings of the vessel and tasked Northland Air Patrol and volunteers from Coastguard Houhora onboard a private vessel to commence a search at first light.

At 0630 hours following an initial sea and air search of the Ranganunu Harbour, Northland Air Patrol tracked out to sea and located an upturned vessel matching the description of the overdue vessel. Coastguard Houhora arrived quickly on scene to find 3 people on a nearby isolated rocks near Moturoa Island. Unable to reach the people on the rock due to rough conditions one of the people made an attempt to swim to the Coastguard Houhora vessel. The person arrived at the vessel exhausted and advised Coastguard volunteers that one of the people had severe hypothermia and the other had sustained several gashes from the rocks.

Northland SAR tasked Helimed to the scene where the people were uplifted from the rock and transported to medical assessment.

"The successful outcome of the incident is a credit to the volunteers and search and rescue agencies involved. It's also highlights the importance of wearing lifejackets - they've never ruined a day on the water and they do help to save your life, there's no doubt about that" says Georgie Smith, Coastguard spokesperson.

In Auckland's Hauraki Gulf an incident occurred this afternoon with ASB Rescue, Howick Rescue One and the Auckland Harbour Master on-scene to a vessel where three people have had to abandon their vessel onto a nearby vessel following a large amount of smoke starting to appear. The smoke onboard the vessel was contained with Coastguard Rescue vessels applying water to the vessel while awaiting fire crew to be transported to the scene.

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