Plane ditches on beach

A light plane has made an unscheduled landing on Whangamata beach.

Early morning strollers had to quicken their steps as the plane - coughing and spluttering - touched down on the sand.

Nick Connolly from the Whangamata Surf Club says it seems it was a precautionary stop.

He says it was towing an advertising banner over the holiday town and the plane appears to have had an engine malfunction.

The pilot, who was the only person on board, climbed out and walked away unharmed.

Emergency services say there has been a small fuel spillage.

A helicopter will be brought in later to lift the plane back to its base.

- NEWSTALK ZB