Group winched to safety after becoming stranded on rocks at Mercer Bay - Stuff

A group of people stranded on rocks at Mercer Bay on Auckland's west coast have successfully been taken back to shore.

A police spokesman said four people on Tuesday became stranded on rocks several metres from the shore and were unable to get back due to high tides.

“Two people are now safely back on shore and rescuers are still in the process of getting the other two people safely off the rocks," the spokesman said, shortly after 4.30pm.

A spokesman from Coastguard said it was not involved in the rescue but local surf lifesavers were believed to be at the scene helping police.

By 5.30pm, police confirmed the remaining two people had been winched to safety by a Westpac rescue helicopter.

Mercer Bay is south of Piha beach, near to Karekare.