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The Army has been left red-faced after two of its personnel had to be rescued by emergency services during a training exercise on the water.
The pair spilled out of their kayaks during night training on Fiordland's Lake Te Anau, and to compound matters, an Army safety boat designed to help in such situations became "submerged" in the same rough conditions.
The training involved an Auckland-based unit, but the Army would not specify what type.
The Special Air Service is one unit based in Auckland that trains on a range of terrains.
Police, with the help of a local tourism operator and helicopter firm, were able to pick up the two kayakers after being called out about 11pm on Wednesday.
The pair were cold after spending some time in the water and were treated on site by ambulance staff, but did not require any further treatment.
The Army said personnel on the safety boat might also have ended up in the water.
Spokesman Bas Bolyn said the Army would be looking into what happened, but pointed to the police assessment that it had a "sound safety plan that was put into action".
"We do conduct training in difficult conditions, and you accept that element of risk."
