An alcohol-fuelled fight on a Real Journeys ferry, in which a staff member was punched and the vessel's skipper forced to intervene, is being investigated by police.
The incident happened on board a ferry travelling from Stewart Island to Bluff about 5pm on Sunday, police said.
Senior Sergeant James Ure, of Dunedin, said some intoxicated passengers were involved in "a reasonable incident" but exact details of the altercation were not clear. It is understood a crew member confronted one of the drunk passengers after they spilled coffee and was subsequently involved in an argument and punched.
The incident was reported to a Real Journeys office and passed on to Bluff police, Mr Ure said.
Officers had planned to meet the boat to speak to the passengers involved when it docked, but they had already disembarked when police arrived.