Maritime NZ's RCCNZ is coordinating a search off the coast of Gisborne after a fishing party was reported overdue this afternoon.
The alert was initially raised to police just before 4pm, 24 June. It wasn't known where the party was when police were notified by a concerned contact of the fishing party.
No communication has been received from the vessel since it left shore this morning.
It is understood the party were on a seven metre vessel.
Coastguard Gisborne, a helicopter and vessels of opportunity have and were being used in the search.
Conditions off the East Coast have been deteriorating, making the search challenging.
We are doing everything we can to locate the missing vessel.
RCCNZ have requested assistance from NZDF and a P8 Poseidon is moving into the search area tonight to undertake a radar search. Additional local resources are on standby should the vessel be located.
