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An investigation has been launched into a fire on a fishing boat 600km from New Zealand, which prompted the crew to temporarily abandon ship.
The five crew and a fisheries officer aboard the 28m Santa Maria II took to a liferaft on Sunday after smoke began to pour from the engine room.
They were later able to return and another vessel, Rose Louise, is now towing it back to New Zealand.
Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) acting chief investigator of accidents Ken Mathews said investigator Captain Iain Hill had started his inquiries and would meet Santa Maria II when it arrived back.
It was expected either in Tauranga or Auckland tomorrow or Thursday.
Mr Mathews said the vessel's automatic fire smothering system on board had extinguished the fire, after which the master decided it was safe to reboard.
The crew had been able to restart the main engine.
- NZPA
