Three bodies have been recovered after a charter fishing vessel sank near Otou North Cape in poor weather.
There were ten people onboard the boat which activated its emergency locator beacon around 8-o'clock last night.
Five were rescued and taken to hospital; but two are yet to be found.
The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre's Nick Burt said the search, which covers about 300 square nautical miles, involves fishing vessels, the Defence Force, Coastguard, and rescue helicopters.
RNZ reporter Jake McKee spoke to Māni Dunlop.
