Hoax mayday cost $28K

A hoax mayday caller who sparked a search and rescue operation off Whangarei could face a massive fine if he is caught.

The man rang emergency services about 1am on August 14 saying he was the skipper of a boat called the East Coaster with four others on board in trouble between the Hen and Chicken Islands.

A major search was launched involving the Coastguard, police, Northland Electricity rescue helicopter, Navy ship Pukaki, a fixed-wing aircraft, and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The operation, conducted amid some of the worst sea conditions of the year, was eventually called off after nothing was found.

Maritime NZ spokesman Nigel Clifford said the exercise wasted more than $28,000 of vital funds and put rescuers' lives at risk because somebody thought it a good idea to make a hoax call.

If the culprit was caught Maritime NZ would take action against him and hopefully recover some of the costs, he told the Northern Advocate..

The agency had received 23 hoax emergency callouts since 2004 but this incident was the only one that had incurred any costs, as staff could usually determine within minutes if a call was genuine.

- NZPA