Police have launched a search and rescue operation after a woman failed to return from a fishing trip off the east coast of Northland.
Sergeant Craig Burrows said a 45-year-old woman had not returned to shore after going fishing off Matauri Bay yesterday and the alarm was raised with police about 8pm.
A Coastguard crew searched the area in the dark last night and a team with the Northland Rescue Helicopter also carried out a search until it was called off.
A dinghy believed to be that used by the woman was found floating at the southern end of Matauri Bay during the search last night.
However, the woman was not found.
