Report of drifting boat in heavy seas

Police received a report of a boat seen drifting north from the Plimmerton area around Te Rewarewa Point (known locally as Tea Gardens) towards Pukerua Bay in heavy seas. The witness spotted the vessel from the top of the hill at Whiteraia Park and believed that it was drifting, possibly broken down.

Coastguard Mana crew members were already in the area for their regular training night and responded in the rescue vessel Trust Porirua Rescue to search for the boat. By this stage night had set in, light was minimal and seas were very rough. 

Searches up and down the coast found no signs of a boat, although an object was spotted through night vision binoculars on the coast near Te Rewarewa Point. Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called in to locate it as TPR was unable to get close enough to the coast due to the poor conditions.

No vessels or persons were found and both boat and helicopter were stood down at approximately midnight.

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