Boy hospitalised in night boating accident

The Auckland Coastguard says two overnight incidents where boats ran aground highlight the need to navigate with caution during darkness.

An 11-year-old boy was hospitalised last night after the boat he was in hit rocks at speed on Hauraki Gulf.

The boy lost most of his front teeth after the 6-metre aluminium runabout he was in hit rocks at Rabbit Island in Kawau Bay.

Auckland Volunteer Coastguard duty officer Jaron Phillips said the four other people on the boat were shocked but unharmed.

In a second incident, a 6-metre launch ran aground on rocks at Browns Bay on Auckland's North Shore.