Rescue efforts for two fishermen seen in waters off Gisborne after failing to return from a fishing trip yesterday evening are being postponed until tomorrow.
In an update this evening, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) said assessments on plans for tomorrow will be made overnight, and efforts will resume at first light.
RCCNZ said it is working throughout the night to assess drift patterns, source additional onshore and offshore rescue capabilities, and will continue to make every effort to carry out a successful rescue.
Police earlier said they were alerted that a party of three fishermen had not returned as expected around 4.50pm yesterday, with Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club president Roger Faber telling 1News three boats were out fishing for bluefin tuna and that one had not returned.
“We tried calling the other boat that’s now missing, thinking they had already headed back, but when we returned and saw their trailer still there, we got really concerned.”
The last contact with the missing boat occurred around 9pm yesterday.
The pair were spotted in the water off Māhia Peninsula earlier today but visual contact was lost before they could be rescued.
RCCNZ general manager Justin Allan said swells and gusts due to the adverse weather is making the operation to find the pair “dangerous”.
“Swells are getting up as high as six metres and winds are gusting up to 50 knots,” he said.
“RCCNZ is continuing to work with a range of agencies to coordinate rescuers to attempted to safely get these men out of the water.”
The African Tiger, a shipping vessel, spotted two people in the water off the Māhia Peninsula earlier this afternoon.
Maritime New Zealand said visual contact was lost but urgent actions to relocate the people were underway.
“We are working as quickly as possible to relocate and rescue these people in the water,” a RCCNZ spokesperson said earlier today.
“They have been in the water for a long-time now, and will be cold and tired.”
Allan said support from the Coastguard, rescue helicopter operators, the New Zealand Defence Force, and vessels of opportunity in the area continued until the evening.
“Rescuers are continuing to do their very best in incredibly trying conditions and we are hugely grateful for their efforts.”
The NZDF dropped a life raft into the area the men were located just after 4pm this afternoon.
Yesterday evening, Coastguard Gisborne, the Gisborne Rescue Helicopter, and several vessels of opportunity joined the search for the missing boat.
It comes amid multiple weather warnings for the entire East Coast, with large easterly swells forecast to affect the region through to tomorrow.
Maritime New Zealand said in a statement the weather conditions in the area are “atrocious”, making it “extremely difficult for responders on the water and in the air”.
“We are looking at a number of ways to try and safely get these people out of the water,” RCCNZ operations manager Michael Clulow said.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those caught up in this rapidly evolving situation and are taking all practical steps to save lives.”
There has been no update on the third missing individual.