Police have rescued a 14-year-old boy off the rocks at a Bay of Plenty beach, in what one officer is calling a 'Christmas miracle”.

At about 8pm on Christmas Eve, police received reports of a boy failing to return from collecting shellfish at Opape Beach near Ōpōtiki.

The boy had last been seen at 3pm.

The tide was coming in and family were concerned that daylight was running out and that he may have been swept from the rocks.

The Coast Guard were contacted and their vessel deployed from Opotiki for a shoreline search.

Police Search and Rescue were called out from Bay of Plenty and a ground search was coordinated from Opape.

Local helicopter company, Motu Helicopters, with police on board, were tasked to check the area until the Police Air Support Unit, Eagle, was available.

At about 9pm Motu Helicopters located the boy clinging on to the side of the rocks at Opape Beach.

The pilot was able to manoeuvre the helicopter close to the steep rock face, allowing Constable Reuben Hennessy of Bay of Plenty Police Search and Rescue, to get onto the rocks then guide the boy down from the rock face into the helicopter.

He was then returned to his friends and family who were waiting at Opape. He was not injured.

'I would like to take the chance to remind people when out fishing so close to rocks or engaging in water sports that they come prepared," says Constable Hennessy.

"We recommend people taking life-jackets and wearing them.

'It's also important to take a mobile phone but keep it waterproof, such as in a plastic zip-locked bag."

Constable Hennessy says it's also good to check the weather and tide conditions in advance of going out.

"It's a Christmas miracle that we found the young boy," says Constable Hennessy.

"It could have been a tragedy. His family are very relieved he's okay and back safely and so are we."