A man and his daughter who were reported overdue from a fishing trip in the Firth of Thames have now been located.

The 73-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman were reported missing when they failed to return to the boat ramp at Kaiaua after setting out on a day-long fishing trip on Friday morning.

A search operation was then launched shortly after the man's wife raised the alarm at 2.30am on Saturday.

A police spokesperson says eventually the pair's boat was spotted adrift in the Firth of Thames at about 10.30am.

'The white boat, called Sledgehammer, which is approximately four metres long and has an outboard motor, was spotted by another boat.

'Both of those on board are tired and hungry but otherwise okay.”

Sledgehammer will be towed to shore by another boat.

A Coastguard plane and rescue vessels plus private boats all took part in the search for the pair.