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Auckland's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has rescued four fishermen from a sinking ship.
Manager Greg Brownson says the 75-foot fishing vessel was taking on water, six nautical miles from Kaitaia, when the helicopter was called.
Mr Brownson says initially it was going to provide a pump so the water could be removed.
However he says when the helicopter arrived, the skipper had decided they better jump ship because it was going down.
Rescue staff winched all four crew members off the boat and flew them to Kaitaia Hospital.
There were no injuries.
- NEWSTALK ZB
