Two people rescued after boat sinks on Lake Taupō

The local Coastguard and the harbourmaster were sent to the scene. Photo / File

A man and a woman have been rescued from rocks on the shore of Lake Taupō after their boat sank this afternoon.

Police were called to reports of a boat sinking and two people stuck on rocks west of Whangamata Bay near Kinloch about 11.15am, a police spokeswoman said.

It appeared the callout had come from a concerned witness on Kawakawa Rd, she said.

The Coastguard and the harbourmaster were sent to the scene.

By about 12.30pm, the Coastguard had collected the occupants and was taking them to Kinloch.

Harbourmaster Heath Cairns said the two people had been safely recovered by the harbourmaster team, however the sunken vessel was still underwater.

He said with the current lake conditions they could not salvage the boat today.

The plan was to retrieve it on the next calm day, he said.

Senior constable Barry Shepherd of the Taupō police said a man and a woman had been rescued from rocks on the shore of Lake Taupō after their boat sank.

He said the rocks were on the western side of the lake near Kinloch.

"Another person rang police after seeing them. the Lake Taupō Coastguard and harbour master responded and rescued them off the rocks."

Shepherd said the conditions on the lake were windy but he was unsure if the conditions had contributed to the boat sinking.

"It could be any one reason or a combination of reasons."