A boat that sank in the Ōmokoroa channel on Saturday has been successfully refloated with no environmental impact, the Tauranga harbourmaster said.

“We went out about 10.30am and it was already badly sunk,” said local resident Linda McLean. “The water was about three-quarters the way up the window.”

McLean said there were rough seas and strong winds in Tauranga harbour at the time.

“It was pretty rough in the harbour with a strong easterly.”

She said the boat, named Denm’s had been moored in the Ōmokoroa channel opposite Beach Rd.

“I put a photo on the local Ōmokoroa Facebook page, because I know that most of Ōmokoroa look at that all the time, and someone will have contacted the owner.

“When we got to Te Puna we could see that the harbourmaster was already on his way,” McLean said.

“It was an older wooden boat but looked like it was in pretty good condition. It was still on its mooring; I don’t know what made it sink.

“They put buoys on it and later it was being lifted up.”

Denm's sinking at its mooring in the Ōmokoroa channel on Saturday morning, February 15, 2025. Photo/Linda McLean.

The boat was refloated on Saturday afternoon.

“It was a small vessel that had a mechanical fault that caused it to take on water,” the Tauranga harbourmaster said.

“The boat was refloated and is currently docked.

“There was no harm or risk to physical safety and no environmental impacts.”