A walker on the Mauao base track has reported that the fishing vessel aground at the base of Mauao is now spilling diesel.

'There's no sign of any salvage attempt. Debris is floating off the boat and diesel is spilling into the water."

The fishing vessel at high tide around noon. Photo: Peter Sutherland.

'We're sitting on the bank above and we can smell diesel. A couple of security guards are also here watching, and they can't do anything.

'You'd think with the calm weather and the low tide this morning that something would have been done to stabilise it, but nothing has been done.”

Police received a report about 11.35pm on Friday night of a boat having run aground at Mount Maunganui.

"Those aboard made it to shore safely," says a Police spokesperson.

SunLive contacted the harbour master team about the report of diesel spilling into the water, and the team say that they're keeping a close eye on it.

'It's likely to break up. There's a chance that parts of it will break up.

'It's up to the salvager and owner to rectify.”

It's understood that a barge is on its way to the scene.

SunLive has approached the owner of the vessel for comment.

At the scene? Phone 0800 SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz

Photo of the fishing vessel earlier today. Photo: Brett Amos

Earlier: 7.45am A fishing charter boat has run aground on the rocks at the base of Mauao last night.

Police received a report about 11.35pm on Friday night of a boat having run aground at Mount Maunganui.

"Those aboard made it to shore safely," says a Police spokesperson.

The Harbourmaster team has confirmed that they are liaising with the owner of the boat to arrange its removal.

'We have made contact with the vessel owner and it appears he is taking the right steps to deal with the situation,” says Adrian Heays, a member of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Harbourmaster team.

It is understood that this may take some time to resolve due to tides and access to resources. The next high tide is at 12.41pm.

The boat aground at the base of Mauao on Saturday morning. Photo: Chris Taylor.

Local photographer Chris Taylor spotted the vessel on a dawn walk around the base track about 6.15am this morning.

"Given it was above the tide level I'd say it must have been there a few hours. There's also a dinghy on the rocks further around."

"The boat is about 15 minutes' walk from the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service."

It is understood that the nearby dinghy on the rocks is due to an unrelated incident.

SunLive has approached the owner of the vessel for comment.

At the scene? Phone 0800 SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz