Reports of people in the water with an upturned boat in Tauranga sparked an emergency response this afternoon, though the pair were apparently able to wade to safety.
A police communications spokeswoman said a call came in just before 1pm of an upturned vessel in the estuary between Rotary Park, Maungatapu, and James Cook Drive, Welcome Bay.
Emergency services were responding and searching for two people seen in the water, she said.
The Tauranga Coastguard and TECT Trustpower Rescue Helicopter also responded.
A reporter at the scene said two learner sailors had ventured out on a small sail boat when they were caught by wind and tipped over.