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A Rotorua family who were lost at sea for 28 hours say they want to pay part of the $250,000 cost of the rescue operation that saved their lives.
Skipper Te Rua Toetoe and four family members set off in a 5.5m fibreglass boat from Maketu, south of Tauranga, on the morning of December 30 for a fishing expedition.
While near Motunau Island, the weather began to deteriorate and at midday, with just five litres of fuel left, a text message was sent to Mr Toetoe's wife Sophie saying they were lost and asking her to call the coastguard.
A search involving the coastguard, an Air Force Orion, two helicopters, a Taupo sea rescue boat and many volunteers finally found the group.
Mrs Toetoe said yesterday she was indebted to the rescuers and wanted to pay some of the $250,000 cost.
"It's shocking. I feel really bad. That is a lot of money. I'm quite embarrassed about it," she told the Rotorua Post.
- NZPA
