Fishing boat tragedy: Transport Accident Investigation Commission opens inquiry into Far North incident

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has launched an inquiry into the Far North fishing boat tragedy.

A TAIC spokesperson said a protection order has been placed on all debris of the charter boat Enchanter to protect evidence.

"Anyone finding debris should report this to the police," a TAIC spokesperson said.

Five people who were plucked to safety from the boat, which sunk overnight, are now out of hospital.

The bodies of three people were found this morning, and a fourth was recovered this afternoon.

The search for the final unaccounted for person will resume tomorrow morning, Maritime New Zealand says.

Maritime New Zealand late today issued a statement saying "rescuers are focused on finding" the fifth person.

"This is an active search for the remaining person unaccounted for, and the rescuers ... will explore every option. Police divers also arrived to the scene this evening and will be heading out tomorrow morning."

Conditions tomorrow morning are expected to be favourable for the rescue effort, they said.

"Our thoughts are with those impacted and their families," Rescue Coordination spokesperson Nick Burt says.

"Conditions were difficult for rescuers, this afternoon search crews have been battling squalls, which have hampered search efforts," Burt said.

Five people have been discharged from Kaitaia Hospital while four bodies have been recovered. Photo / Michael Cunningham

All five people rescued were discharged from Kaitaia Hospital - including the boat's skipper, Lance Goodhew - earlier today.

A TAIC spokesperson said investigators will speak with people who may have information and is asking those who may have particular details to come forward.

TAIC investigators in the Far North will be speaking to people who may have information about the "Enchanter" and encourages people with information to come forward.

The commission opens inquiries when it believes the circumstances of an incident have or are likely to have significant implications for transport safety.

An investigation can also be carried out when TAIC believe it could make findings or recommendations to improve transport safety.

"The purpose of the commission, under law, is to improve transport safety by avoiding repeat accidents, rather than by ascribing blame," it said in a statement this afternoon.

It is understood a group of people from Auckland and the Waikato were onboard the Enchanter when it first raised the alarm just after 8pm yesterday.

Goodhew, an experienced skipper, later radioed into Radio Mangonui at 10pm saying he was about an hour off North Cape before losing signal, iwi leader Penetaui Kleskovic said.

An hour later the boat was submerged underwater at Murimotu, leaving the 10 people onboard scrambling for survival.

"Apparently it was on their journey north back to the Three Kings that they struck torrential weather."