Search continues off Northland coast

Searchers have located one body and are continuing to try and find a missing crew member from a tuna-fishing boat who abandoned ship in rough conditions off the coast of Cape Reinga yesterday evening.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) have sent a Whangarei-based helicopter and a RNZAF Orion aircraft and diverted 3 vessels to the search area to help locate any survivors.

RCCNZ have been working with Whangarei Police since a mayday call was received from the sinking boat at around 7:15pm last night.

A distress beacon was picked up at around 8:45pm that helped a helicopter sent to the scene by RCCNZ and Whangarei Police to locate the boat’s life raft.

An update will be sent when further information comes to hand.