Missing fisherman

View of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf from the summit of Rangitoto Island.

A person was found in the waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf tonight, just minutes after searchers had suspended looking for an overdue fisherman.

But emergency services were tight-lipped about the discovery, and would not say whether the person was a male or alive.

Coastguard spokesman Ray Burge said the missing fisherman had set out from Westhaven Marina at 6am yesterday, and was supposed to return there within four hours. The Coastguard staff wasn't told until noon today that he was missing.

Three coastguard vessels and the coastguard air patrol were sent out to search. Police were also involved, Mr Burge said.

The fisherman's boat was found anchored near The Noises islands, northeast of Rakino Island.

The man was not on board, he said.

The searchers fanned out from the boat, but went back to base after it got dark about 8pm.

About 8.10pm, a cruise ship reported seeing a person in the water in the channel between Tiritiri Matangi island and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, said Mr Burge's colleague, Georgie Smith.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter also attended.

Spokesman Mark Cannell said the person, who was not believed to be from the cruise ship, was taken back to Auckland by a coastguard vessel.

Police and the coastguard refused to comment further on the situation.