A mayday involving a burning boat sparked a search off the coast of Oamaru last night.
However, late last night, the call was believed to be a hoax.
Three adults and a child were reported to be aboard a 17m vessel called Pleasant Fisher when it caught fire 3km from the Waitaki River mouth shortly before 6pm.
The caller said the fire had forced the group to abandon ship for the safety of a lifeboat.
They did not have time to activate their rescue beacon, a Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand spokeswoman said.
The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter was sent to assist in the search, and was joined by an Oamaru-based helicopter, fishing vessels from Timaru and Oamaru, and the South Canterbury coastguard, she said.
The search was suspended at 9.25pm amid suspicion the call had been a hoax.
