A person has died after being airlifted to hospital after a boat capsized at Port Waikato.

A police spokesperson said emergency services received reports of three people in the water after a boat overturned north of Sunset Beach about 7.15am.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said crews assessed and treated three patients, one in a critical condition who was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital, one in a critical condition who was airlifted to Waikato Hospital and one in a moderate condition who was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital.

In an update around 12.50pm, police confirmed that one of those people in critical condition has died.

A Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) spokesperson said surf lifeguards from both Surf Life Saving Kariaotahi and Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service responded to the incident.

“The two teams were activated and responded to assist. Three people were retrieved from the water and taken to the beach near Port Waikato to meet emergency services at approximately 8.40am. All three patients were then transported in separate helicopters to hospital.”

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said St John was notified of a water-related incident at Lake Puketi at 7.23am.

Three helicopters, one ambulance, one rapid response unit and one manager responded to the scene.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.