A crew member on board a container ship destined for Australia was rescued by the Northland Rescue Helicopter team after seriously injuring his arm.
It was one of three rescues carried out by the Whangarei-based helicopter crew in one day.
The man suffered a fractured arm while working on a 140-metre container ship that had left Tauranga for Melbourne. The initial call for help was made to the Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington on Tuesday.