An activated personal locator beacon was the subject of a rescuse helicopter call out to Matakana Island this afternoon.
The Rescue Coordination center in Wellington had picked up the signal and called the registered owner who reported the beacon stolen.
The Tauranga based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter was called over to Matakana Island where the personel locator beacon had been activated.
A radio technician was flown across to the island to locate the beacon with hand held tracking equipment.
Helicopter pilot Liam Brettkelly said it appeared the beacon had been washed ashore in the storm and was still transmitting albeit weakly.