Search ended for group missing after getting trapped on rocks at Cape Reinga

Emergency services, including the Police Search and Rescue team and a helicopter, managed to a group that came into trouble on the rocks at Cape Reinga. Photo / NZME

Emergency services have successfully rescued a small group of people trapped on the rocks at Cape Reinga on Friday evening.

Police were notified at about 3.20pm on Friday, “that a group of four people had called for assistance after getting into trouble on rocks near Tapotupotu Rd.”

“Two people were brought to safety by late afternoon. Surf Rescue brought a third person to safety about 5.50pm, and at 6.15pm, the last person was winched off the rocks by a rescue helicopter,” Police said.

They added that no serious injuries were reported.

“Police would like to thank all those involved, including members of the public who offered assistance.”

Emergency services, including the Police Search and Rescue team and a helicopter attended the scene.

The incident happened as a weather watch was issued for Northland.

Weather conditions at the time

Lead meteorologist at MetService Stephen Glassey said that at 3pm “There was a marine watch for the area ... at around that time they were getting some standard rain. It didn’t particularly look heavy at that point in time, and there were northerly winds. We are expecting winds to develop overnight.”

Glassey said there was also a north-westerly swell of about 2m.

“They don’t usually get swells from that direction, it’s not that common. At 3pm it didn’t look out of the ordinary except for the swell. There was some low cloud up there as well. That is unusual, and it may have had an effect on visibility this afternoon.”

He added that a low-pressure system was developing northwest of New Zealand and would develop overnight and into Saturday morning.

On Sunday MetService warned Northlanders of a storm approaching, after severe thunderstorms were detected Sunday morning.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for all of Northland until 1pm on Sunday.

The agency’s radar detected severe thunderstorms in an area northwest of Whangārei at about 9.30am on Sunday, but its red, severe thunderstorm warning was lifted at 11am.

Yolisa Tswanya is deputy news director at the Northern Advocate based in Whangārei.