Passengers evacuated after boat mishap near Auckland

Thirty-six people, including a number of children, have been evacuated from a charter vessel near New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Sunday after it began taking on water. Emergency services were told the MV Dream Weaver was in trouble in the Tiri Channel, near the Whangaparaoa Peninsula north of Auckland, just before 2 p.m., NZ Newswire reported. Several vessels responded and the police launch Deodar loaded all 36 passengers a short time later. No injuries were reported but some passengers were suffering sea sickness and ambulance staff were asked to wait at Westhaven Marina in downtown Auckland as a precaution. Maritime New Zealand is expected to investigate the incident.