Four people boating on Lake Rotoiti, north-east of Rotorua, this morning had to jump ship as their boat went up in flames.
The fire started in the engine bay of the boat at about 10.30am and those on board had to jump overboard to escape the blaze, Inspector Willy Taylor said.
No one was seriously injured.
The boat sank in Lake Rotoiti as a result of the fire.
It was not known what caused the fire.
