Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) began coordinating the search about 6.30pm yesterday after a brief and partial mayday call was received. Senior Search and Rescue Officer Chris Henshaw said about 2pm on Thursday a vessel advised that it was the one that had broadcast the mayday call. After the mayday call, search and rescue officers believed there were two people on board and held serious concerns for their safety. But a search to find the vessel found nothing - and officials think the yacht may have given an incorrect location. This morning, it was believed that the yacht was around the east of the Coromandel Peninsula, off the coast of Pauanui.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 18, 2021 01:52 UTC