Boaties are being told to cancel Mayday calls once they're safe

Maritime NZ's spoken with the skipper of the yacht, Tribe, who radioed for help east of Coromandel last week, saying there were eight metre swells and the boat was sinking.

The Navy, Air Force and Coastguard went out looking for the yacht.

The skipper managed to motor north and he and another person on board were later found safe and well off Whangarei.

Maritime NZ says the man's VHF radio broke down so he didn't hear his radio messages or broadcasts to vessels in the search area.

Spokesman Vince Cholewa says if people make a Mayday call and the situation changes for the better, they should cancel it.