Drunk yachtie 'threw wife overboard'

An inebriated yachtie allegedly threw his wife overboard near Paihia in the Bay of Islands when she complained about his drinking.

Kawakawa police Senior Constable Pat Davies said the two, aged 56 and 49, had moored their boat off Paihia but had begun arguing at about 2am.

"The wife told the husband that he had had enough to drink. He didn't think so and started throwing her stuff off the boat. He told her, 'You're next', and threw her off the boat," Mr Davies said.

While in the water, the woman had reportedly heard her partner laughing on deck.

She had climbed into a dinghy at the end of the catamaran and rowed to shore where she saw a policeman.

She stayed elsewhere for the night.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)