A person has died after a small boat capsized off the coast of Kaikōura this morning, police say.
A police spokesperson said emergency services were alerted at about 7.10am after reports a small vessel had overturned in the water.
Two people were understood to have been on board at the time.
One person made it safely to shore and was uninjured.
The second person was found on the beach shortly after 8am.
“Despite the best efforts of those at the scene, the person was pronounced dead a short time later,” the spokesperson said.
Police thanked partner agencies involved in the response, including Police Search and Rescue, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand, Coastguard Kaikōura volunteers and Surf Life Saving Kaikōura.