\u201cWhile this isn\u2019t the outcome any of us wanted, we remain focused on bringing both people home to their wh\u0101nau. A large-scale search by sea and air is ongoing, along with searches of the shoreline.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to acknowledge all of those people involved, including boaties and members of the community who offered their help,\u201d Overton said.<\/p>\n
Search and rescue teams earlier today found the missing fishing boat off the Northland coast.<\/p>\n
Search teams had been looking for the vessel since 9pm yesterday.<\/p>\n
The two people on the 17-foot, single-engine boat had been expected to return to Pataua South, east of Whang\u0101rei, at 7pm yesterday.<\/p>\n
Police and Coastguard volunteers from Tutukaka and Whang\u0101rei were alerted at 9pm and immediately started a search.<\/p>\n
By 2am, the police Eagle helicopter had joined the search, before it was temporarily halted at 4am.<\/p>\n
Search teams resumed the hunt at 8am.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can confirm the boat was located mid-to-late morning,\u201d a police spokesperson said earlier.<\/p>\n
Police had community members had put out a call to vessels in Pataua Harbour and Ngunguru Bay to report sightings of the boat, described as a runabout.<\/p>\n
A community Facebook page said the two people on the boat were male and set off from Pataua.<\/p>\n
The post thanked search and rescue teams for their efforts during search efforts overnight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe night has been long and profoundly worrying for all the wh\u0101nau,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
It then confirmed the search resumed this morning and put out a call to all boaties and coasties along the nearby coastline.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe Urgently Need Your Help,\u201d the post said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are calling upon our entire network.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have a boat: We urge all our wh\u0101nau, friends, and friends of friends with a boat to please come and help us search.\u201d<\/p>\n