A boat, believed to have a group of fisherman on board, is missing off the coast of Gisborne tonight after failing to return from a fishing trip which turned dangerous due to unexpected weather.
Police said they received a report that a party of fishermen had not returned as expected around 4.50pm today.
"Police are liaising with Maritime New Zealand and Coastguard."
Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club president Roger Faber told 1News three boats were out fishing for bluefin tuna and that one had not returned.
He said the weather took a "gnarly" turn and that he decided to return to shore.
"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 group set out at around 7am this morning and the last contact with the missing boat occurred around 9am.
Later attempts to reach them at 11am were unsuccessful.
The people on the missing boat had set off an emergency beacon, Faber said.
"We’re hoping for a favourable outcome."
Search efforts will continue at first light tomorrow.
An extreme weather watch is in place for the entire East Coast, with large easterly swells forecast to affect the region late tomorrow through to Wednesday.
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