By 3 News online staff
A boat has been deliberately run aground after hitting a rock off Green Island in the Foveaux Strait, near Stewart Island.
The Rescue Coordination Centre says the 24-metre fishing and passenger vessel Torea was grounded on Ruapuke Island around midday with 23 passengers and three crew on board.
Ruapuke Island is located 15 km southeast of Bluff and 32km northeast of Oban on Stewart Island, at the eastern end of the Foveaux Strait.
The boat’s passengers were taken to Bluff, where they have been interviewed by police.
Five local fishing vessels were said to be in the area at the time and the Takatimu, a Coastguard vessel, also attended.
There is a 14,000 tonne oil ship also called Torea which in enroute from Lyttelton to Bluff but Maritime New Zealand have confirmed it was not involved in the accident.
3 News / NZN