"At least five people are reported to have been on board the boat and have evacuated the craft. All were wearing life jackets.
"Emergency services are in attendance, including Deodar, the Auckland Maritime Unit."
The fire was thought to have been started in the engine room, the spokeswoman said.
Photo / NZ Police
Lincoln Davies, the helicopter service's communication manager, said a crew flew to Waiheke Island at around 7.15am to help a man, aged in his 40s who had suffered smoke inhalation in the boat fire.
Witness Cameron May took this photo of the boat ablaze before the NZ Police vessel Deodar arrived. Photo / Supplied
The Deodar police boat and the rescue chopper had not yet arrived, but there was another boat moored nearby and a runabout that had gone to check on the occupants of the vessel that had been on fire, he said.
"The occupants were on the beach just sitting there watching it burn because there was nothing they can do," he said.
"Then within a couple of minutes of us arriving the helicopter showed up and the Deodar came around the corner."
May said he could see three people on the shore at the time.
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman had said earlier that his team were on their way to a fire but he couldn't confirm the details of the blaze.
