Police appeal for help after prank wastes time

The mystery of a dinghy stacked with firewood which was torched off a Bay of Plenty beach at the weekend is no closer to being resolved as police appeal for the public's help.

No one was hurt when the three metre aluminium dinghy was set alight and pushed off Papamoa Beach on Sunday.

However, police, firefighters and coastguard volunteers who rushed to the scene say it was a costly prank which wasted time and resources.

Senior Sergeant Craig Madden from the Mt Maunganui police said police wanted to hear from anyone who knew who owned the boat or who had set it alight.

"Someone has pushed it out to sea as a prank," he said.

The dinghy had no motor or identifying marks.

Mr Madden said anyone with information should call the Tauranga police.

- NZPA