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Rescue teams are searching the Northland coast for signs of two missing fishermen after their overturned dinghy was found floating in the sea.
A search started for the two men - aged 50 and 20 - after they did not return from a fishing trip off the Far North's east coast, near Whangaroa, last night.
The men set off on the trip in the four metre dinghy from Te Ngaire Bay, between Whangaroa Harbour and the Bay of Islands, about 8am yesterday.
They were expected back about 1pm.
The dinghy had no safety equipment, life jackets or communication equipment on board.
A Northern Coastguard duty officer said the search had been widened since the dinghy had been located this afternoon, to include beaches and islands in the area, in the hope the two had been washed ashore or made it to land.
Two coastguard vessels, coastguard aircraft, rescue helicopters and rescue teams on the ground were all looking for the men, he said.
The search conditions were good with a light breeze.
Police and coastguard were alerted overnight, and the search, involving two coastguard boats, a private boat and a plane, began at first light.
The men had not give an intended destination before heading out.
- NZPA
