A search continues this morning for a man missing after his boat sank off the coast of Foxton last night.
Emergency services are combing the area on the West coast of the North Island for a 38-year-old from Foxton.
At about 6pm last night the fisherman and a 45-year-old man from Levin set out on a 7.5m aluminium catamaran, said police.
"The pair were only intending to be out until about 7.30pm testing a couple of engines and doing a little fishing.
"About 8pm when they had not returned some local enquiries were made by Coastguard and then Police were contacted to launch a full search and rescue operation.''
The search operation overnight involved a fixed wing Coastguard aircraft from Kapiti, two Coastguard boats from Kapiti and two from Manawatu. The Palmerston North Rescue helicopter and an Iroquois from 3 Squadron at RNZAF Ohakea have assisted and Coastguard and Police have patrolled the beach.
The 45-year-old man managed to make is ashore near Hokio Beach between 3am and 3:30am this morning, said police.
"He walked for 30 to 45 minutes until he came across a man in a four-wheel drive who drove him into Levin and flagged down Police.
"He was checked out by ambulance and cleared to go home where he is now recovering.''
He told police their boat sank about 6:30pm.
The search continues for the man's fishing companion and boat owner today.
This morning a Coastguard boat from Whanganui and a boat and a jet-ski from Coastguard Manawatu are searching along with an Iroquois and Patenavia twin engine plane from Air Charter Manawatu in Feilding with air observers on board.
Police said the families of the two men are being kept informed and Victim Support are providing assistance.
