Two people have been rescued from a boat that hit rocks near Leigh, north of Auckland, during a "weather bomb" early this morning.
Police were called around 2.40am after the vessel struck rocks and the pair struggled to make their way to shore.
Fire and Emergency was called to the "floundering" boat around 3am, with the local volunteer fire brigade arriving to find the two people trapped on the vessel at Leigh Harbour.
The volunteers requested specialist support from Auckland City's high-angle triangle rescue team, who worked alongside police and ambulance crews to navigate a difficult cliff face using rescue lines in complete darkness.
Senior station manager in charge of the high-angle rescue team Michael Manning said crews pulled off an outstanding rescue amid significant danger.
"They had to navigate a difficult cliff face using rescue lines in complete darkness and during a weather bomb to pull off an outstanding rescue," Manning said.
"I am very proud of those involved as they pulled off a complex rescue amidst a lot of danger."
The two people were extracted just before 6am and police were stood down.
Hato Hone St John sent two ambulances and an operations manager to the scene, treating both patients who were in minor condition before transporting them to hospital.
The boat remains on the rocks with the sea still surging.
Police and the harbour master will determine what to do with the vessel.
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