Gisborne missing fishing boat search: Two people identified alive in ...

Two people have been identified alive in the water off Gisborne as authorities frantically search for three men who went missing on a fishing trip yesterday.

But "dangerously difficult" weather conditions off Gisborne's coast is making their rescue impossible.

In an update on Tuesday evening, Maritime NZ said the search for the pair has been postponed until dawn on Wednesday.

It comes after authorities launched a search on Monday for three fishermen who went missing off Gisborne's coast. Their boat's last communication was at about 10am.

Then on Tuesday afternoon, the African Tiger container vessel spotted two people in the water off Māhia Peninsula, Hawke's Bay, according to Maritime NZ.

Maritime's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) operation's manager Michael Clulow said vessels were sent to Māhia Peninsula to try to find the pair, but the severe weather meant it had to be called off.

RCCNZ staff will work through the night on a rescue plan and try to figure out where the men may have drifted.

A life raft was dropped near where the two men were spotted, but it's unknown if they reached the raft.

Swells and gusts linked to the severe weather are making it dangerous, said RCCNZ general manager Justin Allan.

"Swells are getting up as high as six metres and winds are gusting up to 50 knots," Allan said.

"Rescuers are continuing to do their very best in incredibly trying conditions and we are hugely grateful for their efforts."

The Defence Force, Napier Harbour Tugs, Coastguard, and rescue helicopter providers are all helping to locate the men.

Roger Faber, president of Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club, told Newshub three fishing boats - including one he was on - went out on Monday.

But once the fishermen got out onto the water the favourable five knots turned out to be a 15 knots nor'easter with four-metre swells. 

"We thought it might have dropped out but unfortunately as the morning went on it got worse and worse and late morning we decided to pull the pin, calling up the other boat that had gone down that way with us, they also had made the same decision, and then we tried to call the missing boat who unfortunately didn't reply at that time," Faber told AM on Tuesday morning.

"We hoped that maybe they'd decided to come in earlier but then found that their trailer was still at the boat ramp and that's when concerns came and we decided to get in touch with police and Coastguard."

He described the missing vessel as a 6m "aluminium runabout".

On Monday night, a police spokesperson told Newshub they were called just before 5pm after three men who went on the fishing trip didn't return at the expected time.

"Police are liaising with Maritime New Zealand and Coastguard," they said.

Clulow confirmed to Newshub late last night that a search was underway for the boat.

"It wasn't known where the party was when police were notified by a concerned contact of the fishing party," he said in a statement.

"No communication has been received from the vessel since it left shore this morning," he added.

Clulow said last night that weather conditions made the search "challenging", and poor weather is likely to continue over the next few days.

A heavy (orange) rain warning has been issued for most of Hawke's Bay, including Māhia Peninsula, lasting from 10am Tuesday until late Wednesday night.

Up to 240mm of rain could fall inland, and up to 150mm about the coast - not ideal for search and rescue operations. There is a moderate chance it could be upgraded to a red warning.