Coastguard and police search for kayaker on lake

The Coastguard search on Lake Rotorua this afternoon. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua Coastguard has searched Lake Rotorua after reports a kayaker was in trouble.

A police media spokesman said police had received a report from someone who had seen what appeared to be a kayaker in trouble.

The observation was made from Mokoia Rd and it was reported the kayaker was about 20m from the shore, he said.

He said police were told it was a blue and white kayak. Earlier police patrols checked the lake from the water's edge in the Ngongotaha and Waiteti areas.

Constable Mike Checkley said the Coastguard boat did a search of the lake from Ngongotaha to Hamurana but couldn't find anyone.

Mr Checkley said he was confident there was nothing in it and the kayaker had made it out of the water safely.

He said police would not initiate a full search unless anyone had been reported missing or overdue.