A Northland man sparked a rescue operation involving Coastguard, police and boaties after accidentally getting himself stranded on a yacht in the Hokianga Harbour.
It is understood the man was keen to buy a boat anchored not far from Kohukohu, on the north side of the harbour, so he paddled out in a kayak to check it out.
However, while he was on board his kayak drifted away, leaving him marooned on the yacht.
His cries for help and frantic waving were eventually noticed by people on shore who raised the alarm.
The nature of the emergency was not immediately clear so Whangārei-based police Search and Rescue was alerted, as was Hokianga Coastguard, which is based across the harbour at Rawene.