The search for a vessel that made a mayday call in the Cook Strait last night has been suspended.
Police said the call was made via VHF channel 14 around 10pm, with a report that several people were on board a boat that was in trouble around three nautical miles from Karori Rock.
Multi-agency search called off as police announce inquiry into the nature of the emergency call. (Source: 1News)
Police Sergeant Jonathan Westrupp said the person who made the call indicated the boat was taking on water with two people on board.
“They failed to respond after several further transmissions, and a search was immediately activated, and multiple vessels were deployed to the area.”
Boats from several agencies, including police, the defence force, the coastguard, and the Cook Strait ferries, were all involved with last night’s search.
They searched the area until around 2.30am, “but no debris was found”. The search was paused overnight and continued at 7am today.
Westrupp said “no objects of interest” were found in the strait or during searches of the shoreline or boat ramps.
No boaties were reported missing or overdue.
“We continue to ask the public to notify police should they notice anything unusual in the Cook Strait area or become aware that someone is overdue,” Westrupp said.
Police were making inquiries into the distress call to determine its source and veracity.
Mystery deepens as nighttime search for troubled boat proves fruitless, watch on TVNZ+
“Wellington Police wish to thank the public, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Rescue Coordination Centre, Coastguard Wellington, Wellington Airport Fire Service, Interislander, Bluebridge, Centreport, Seaworks and the media for their support for this search and rescue incident.”
