Emergency services rushed to search Delaware Bay near Nelson after a local thought they saw a small plane, with smoke, over the water.

However, upon further investigation, they found “a crop duster plane doing their job”.

Fire Emergency NZ (FENZ), Police and Coastguard all responded to the potential emergency. An RNZAF aircraft also assisted with the search.

A police spokesperson said: “Upon further inquiries, it appears to have been a crop duster plane doing their job. It doesn’t appear any plane crashed.”

A FENZ spokesperson said a number of crews are at the scene but they have “not found anything of that nature”.

The spokesperson said they have not had any other calls about this.