Four adults and a child were rescued from Lake Taupo after their yacht sank in rough conditions on Tuesday night.
Plice say the six-metre yacht's outboard motor broke down and the sail ripped in a strong easterly wind.
The yacht was then blown onto rocks near Boat Harbour in the Western Bay of Lake Taupo.
The occupants managed to scamble safely onto rocks and sheltered in bush before calling the police on a cellphone.
Two coastguard boats and a rescue helicopter picked them up.
All were taken to Taupo Hospital. Apart from being very cold, they were unharmed.
