Kite-surfing ferry worker rescued by rival Hobsonville ferry company

Belaire and Fullers ferries stood by together last night to rescue a kite-surfer off Kauri Point. Photo / Facebook

A kite-surfing ferry worker has been rescued by a rival ferry company on the Waitematā Harbour.

Belaire Ferries manager Adam Tallentire said his West Harbour ferry spotted the kite surfer paddling in the water off Kauri Pt about 6pm on Wednesday and asked whether he needed help.

"He said, 'Oh nah'," Tallentire said.

"Then we went past him again later and this time he said yes, so we stopped to pick him up.

"We picked him up at Kauri Pt and took him into town. Our boats finish at Hobsonville Marina, so one of our guys dropped him at Hobsonville Pt to collect his car.

"The guy had some broken equipment and he took the easy way out."

Tallentire said the man worked on the Hobsonville Pt ferry operated by rival company Fullers.
Belaire Ferries has operated ferries between Hobsonville Marina (West Harbour) and downtown Auckland 14 times a day since 2008.

Fullers started its service between the city and a new wharf at Hobsonville Pt in 2013 and operates five times a day on weekdays.

Hobsonville Pt residents voted on Tuesday night to pay $50,000 a year to extend the service to weekends.