Three people, including a child, were rescued after their boat struck rocks in the Bay of Islands.
Urupukapuka Island Photo: 123F
The boat, which also had two dogs on board, was taking on water off the northern tip of Urupukapuka Island.
Rescuers found them just after 1am.
Coastguard operations duty officer Johnny Clough said the boat's occupants had been in touch with the police, who advised them to set off a distress beacon.
He said they did everything right. "They had a radio and also cellphone and they all had life jackets."
One of the adults suffered a minor head injury, but that did not require further treatment. The boat was escorted to Parekura Bay.
