Two people and a dog were winched to safety after their boat got into trouble off the South Otago coast today near Owaka.
A Maritime New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre spokesman said they received a beacon alert from a vessel about one nautical mile off the Tautuku Peninsula about 11.30am.
They said there were two people and a dog on the vessel, and they had to abandon it in a life raft.
The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter arrived about 55 minutes after the distress call was received and winched everyone to safety.
