Two people have been rescued after being found clinging to their kayak off the coast of Whangaparāoa's Stanmore Bay this afternoon amid rough seas and winds of 15 to 20 knots.
A group had set off from Mahurangi intending to paddle to Manly Beach.
But when a double kayak failed to arrive as expected and sea conditions deteriorated, a member of the group called police to report them overdue.
A search rescue mission was immediately launched.
"The missing person wasn’t answering texts or calls so we managed to locate the kayakers by polling their phone," Police Coastal Master Senior Constable Trevor Proctor said.
The pair, both of whom were wearing lifejackets, were spotted by the Police Eagle helicopter clinging to their kayak approximately 5.7km off Stanmore Bay Beach.
Coastguard Hibiscus volunteers aboard Hibiscus Rescue 2 helped rescue the kayakers, taking them back to Coastguard Base at Stanmore Bay.
No one was injured following the ordeal.
"This incident highlights the importance of always wearing a lifejacket and carrying more than one form of communication when you’re on the water," Proctor said.
"If you’re relying on a mobile phone, store it in a waterproof bag or case.
"These simple precautions can make a critical difference in an emergency."
Police urged anyone heading out on the water to check the forecast, plan conservatively, and ensure they had appropriate safety equipment before setting out.
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