Missing runabout a false alarm - police

A runabout reported missing off the Coromandel coast may not have logged its return and was probably never in trouble, say police.

The five-metre boat, The Deceiving, logged a trip report with the Coastguard when it left Whangamata on the Coromandel Peninsula on Tuesday but never logged its return.

Police believe it was an oversight and the boat was never missing.

A search was not started because police said they had no idea of where to start.

Waikato police spokesman, Tony Sasso, said it was not unusual for boaties to log their trip report when they left but forget to log in when they returned.

"There is no vehicle and trailer left at the harbour that is still there and there has been no one reported missing. We feel pretty confident it was a false alarm," Mr Sasso said.

Coastguard officials said boaties must remember to let them know when they returned from a trip.

- NZPA