Three bodies have been located on the shore at Mahia following a search and rescue operation.
Three fishermen were reported missing after failing to return from a fishing trip on Monday.
While formal identification was ongoing, police believed the bodies to be the fishermen reported missing.
“Police thoughts are with their families at this difficult time.”
Earlier, two of them were spotted alive in huge seas yesterday.
The staff at Maritime NZ and its Rescue Coordination Centre this morning extended their thoughts and condolences to those impacted by the tragic events off Gisborne.
RCCNZ general manager Justin Allan said it was a difficult and complex search and rescue operation.
”Weather conditions in the area were severe, and rescuers went right to their limits to get to the area we received reports the people in the water were, confirm their location and attempt to remove them from the sea.
”Responders from the region, as well as rescue aircraft sourced from across the North Island had to battle atrocious conditions; including swells of up to and at times more than six metres, 50 knot winds and low visibility, showing how determined they were to reach the men in the water.
”Unfortunately, the sea and weather conditions were too severe.”
One of the missing men was named last night as Elwood Higgins, as tributes for the lost fishermen were posted online by anxious loved ones.
A woman claiming to be a relative of one of the missing men made an emotional plea for her brother to be found.
“Come on my brother, [I am] breaking into pieces over here listening to this storm kicking in. Feeling sooo exhausted, scared and helpless,” she said.
“[I have] already been through enough heartbreak for this lifetime. Make your way home to us and bring your mates home with you too xx.”
“Atrocious weather conditions” hampered the desperate search last night, more 24 hours on from when authorities were told a vessel had not returned to port in Gisborne just before 4pm on Monday, Maritime New Zealand said.
