Conditions make search for missing fishing boat 'challenging'

Heavy rain and strong winds are likely to make the search for a fishing boat with three people aboard off the coast of Gisborne “challenging”.

Search efforts were launched yesterday after police received a report that a boat failed to return from a fishing trip. Maritime NZ confirmed three people were on board the vessel.

The search, led by Maritime NZ, continued this morning.

According to Maritime NZ Rescue Coordination Centre operations manager Micheal Clulow, forecast heavy rain and strong winds in the area will make “the search challenging”.

Multiple weather warnings are in place for the entire East Coast, with large easterly swells forecast to affect the region through to Wednesday.

A helicopter is currently conducting a shoreline search between Gisborne and the Mahia Peninsula, with other aircraft set to join the search later this morning “as conditions allow”.

Overnight, an NZDF P8 Poseidon carried out a radar search off Poverty Bay, Northern Hawke's Bay, and the Mahia Peninsula.

Yesterday evening, Coastguard Gisborne, the Gisborne Rescue Helicopter, and several vessels of opportunity joined the search for the missing boat.

The alert was raised to police just before 4pm yesterday, according to Maritime NZ.

“It wasn't known where the party was when police were notified by a concerned contact of the fishing party. It has been subsequently confirmed three people were on board the vessel,” Clulow said.

The last communication from the vessel took place at around 10am yesterday.

“At that time, the missing vessel was located approximately 20km offshore,” Clulow said.

Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club president Roger Faber told 1News three boats were out fishing for bluefin tuna, and that one had not returned.

Faber said the weather took a "gnarly" turn. He was on one of the boats that returned 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."

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