Ship runs aground near Christchurch

The Coastguard escorting the Tuhoe. Photo / Coastguard Southern Region

Coastguard staff are working to secure a historic ship which ran aground this afternoon near Christchurch.

The MV Tuhoe ran aground at 4pm today on the coastline at Kaiapoi.

At least 11 people were on board at the time, but all passengers have since safely been removed from the vessel.

Coastguard New Zealand spokeswoman Monique Caddy said crew members remained onboard tonight and were working together with members from Coastguard Waikamakariri-Ashley to secure the ship.

It is expected they will remain onboard the ship overnight.

"The crew are still onboard working with the Coastguard crew to try and hook a line to the vessel to tow it out at high tide,'' Ms Caddy said.

"That's where they are at the moment. They're just waiting for the tide to...get it back out.''

According to the Kaiapoi Rivertown Trust's website, the schooner was built in 1919 and now berths at the Kaiapoi River wharf.

The trust took ownership of the vessel in 2004. It operates cruises on the Kaiapoi and Waimakariri Rivers.