Boat begins to break up as waves batter it on rocks in Mount Maunganui

The boat washed ashore. Photo / George Novak

A large charter boat is being battered on rocks off the shore of the Mauao base track.

The boat was aground on rocks about 11.35pm last night and as the tide has changed this morning, the boat has begun breaking apart as waves crashed into it.

A member of the public walking the Mauao base track said there was a large amount of debris in the water and the boat continued to smash against the rocks with every new wave.

A large crowd has gathered on the track, stopping to watch and take photos. Other boats are floating nearby, with people in one dinghy trying to scoop up debris with a net.

The boat washed ashore. Photo / George Novak

A member of the Harbourmaster team said the boat had begun breaking up partly and the owner of the boat and salvager were working to sort the situation.

Bay of Plenty Council staff worked to remove fuel tanks from the boat and at this stage, she said they could not confirm whether fuel had entered the water.

Fishing Charters generally had quite a diesel-like smell to them and that was what some witnesses may be smelling, she said.

Photographer Chris Taylor was walking around the base track about 6.15am today when he spotted a person walking away from a large charter boat on the rocks.

The boat had run aground on to rocks at the Mauao base track. Photo / Chris Taylor

Taylor said he was about 15 minutes from the surf club when he spotted the washed-up vessel.

The boat looked to have run aground on to rocks, but was quite high up above the tide and seemed secure, he said.

Police were notified that a charter boat had run into trouble and hit some rocks in Mount Maunganui about 11.35pm on Friday, a spokeswoman said.

She said everyone had made it to shore safely.

Debris in the water. Photo/ George Novak

Taylor had also seen a dinghy on the rocks that had run ashore just a bit further around the track.

He said he had been told the two incidences were not related.

"It has been quite windy lately."