Kiwirail confirmed the person had gone overboard from the Interislander’s Kaiārahi ferry.
Harbourmaster Grant Nalder could not comment on the incident, but said situations like this were “usually noted by the ship they’re on, the vessel they’re on. Ideally [the ship] notices so you have a time and place.”
Nalder understood Coastguard recently launched onto the water to search, while a police boat is not involved in the search yet.
A rescue helicopter can be seen flying in a pattern over the Cook Strait. Image / Flight Radar
Coastguard said two vessels had been deployed and were at the scene of the search.
A rescue helicopter can be seen on Flight Radar circling in the Cook Strait off the coast of Mākara.