As a precaution, the bar light was activated at Taiaroa Head, which signalled the break and prompted a pilot boat to venture out to help.
Port Otago harbour control duty officer Paul Wright said it was strange given the weather conditions.
"We’ve had moderate to rough seas with [an] easterly swell. The wind has been quite good, it's never gone over 20 knots.
"We've had rain during the day, which then went down to drizzle, but we kept good visibility throughout the day."
Activating the bar light had caused locals concern, he said.
A hazard was created to the bar when the tide went back out and had wind or swells pushing against it.
"The waves coming offshore hit the shallow bar area and they just climb up and for small craft, it could be a danger."
There was a bigger concern than the bar breaking, however.
"The real concern for us is somebody's bringing a small fishing boat in at nighttime and they can't see the big waves. But our little light flashing gives them a heads-up of that possibility.
The light was activated about six times per year. The level of waves had been above the normal, he said.
There had not been heavy rain-reduced visibility or strong gale-force winds, he said.
"It’s strange. I think that's why people are noticing it."
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