A water birth like no other this morning in Auckland's Harbour

A woman has given birth on a Fullers ferry from Waiheke to Auckland City.

Waiheke Island resident Noel Barkley and his wife had been waiting for the 8 o'clock ferry back to the island which, he was told, had been delayed due to a medical emergency.

He says the two-hundred or so people waiting on the dock were a bit worried when they saw a woman being carried off the ferry on a stretcher.

But the atmosphere soon lifted when they saw a man following clutching a shawl.

When the man confirmed it was a baby, there were cheers and tears shared by all.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed the baby had been born before staff arrived but they took them to Auckland City Hospital - where mother and baby are doing well.