A 25-year-old Auckland man had to be winched out of Palliser Bay on the Wairarapa coast on Sunday afternoon after he fell from a jet ski and was dragged out to sea.
The man was rescued by the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
A person on shore who was watching him through binoculars was able to talk the crew directly to the man.
The rescued man was shaken up and a bit cold, but otherwise alright.