Plane joins hunt for missing boat

A plane has joined sea vessels in the search for a boat missing in high seas off the Northland coast.

A mayday call was received from the East Coaster about 1.30am today, indicating four people were on board and that the vessel was in trouble, Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) mission coordinator Neville Blakemore said.

No further broadcasts had been received.

Mr Blakemore said a helicopter and a coastguard vessel had searched the area near the Hen and Chickens Islands, southeast of Whangarei, but had not seen any sign of the East Coaster.

Navy and coastguard vessels began searching the area again this morning.

Bad weather prevented an aerial search at first light, but a fixed wing aircraft that was able to manage the conditions had been commissioned from Taupo to join the search.

Mr Blakemore said conditions in the area were rough, with winds gusting from 37km/h to 56km/h, two metre swells and low visibility.

"If anyone has any information about this vessel, we would really appreciate hearing from them," he said.

"We need to know who is on board, where they might be going, where they regularly travel. We urge anyone who may know those on board to get in touch with the RCCNZ."

Mr Blakemore said the East Coaster was believed to be blue and white.

- NZPA