Man who died after boat capsized in Manukau Harbour was Joe Tetou Williams

Tuesday, 24 September 2019

Three men were rescued from the water after their boat sank near Huia in the Manukau Harbour.

A man who died after a boat he was on capsized in Auckland's Manukau Harbour, has been named by police.

Joe Tetou Williams, 56, was on a boat with two other people when it capsized in the harbour, near Huia, about 12.20pm on Saturday.

A member of the public on a passing boat helped pulled Williams and the two other men from the water and they were transported to a boat ramp near Huia.

He died at the scene and the two others, who had minor injuries, were transported to hospital.

A police spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that Williams' death had now been referred to the coroner.

'Our sympathies are with his family at this time,' the spokesman said.

At the scene on Saturday, Police Senior Sergeant Ross Hunter said a passing boat went to investigate after noticing some debris in the water, and two people.

The two survivors, who had been fishing in the area before the boat overturned, appeared to be OK but 'in shock' and had been in the water for a while.

The capsized boat had since sunk, he added.

MANUKAU BAR DANGER

* An 8-year-old girl was rescued from the Manukau Harbour after she was found treading water. She and her father came into trouble on their dinghy in April 2017. The search for her father was later suspended.

* In December 2014, two men died after their 5-metre aluminium boat swamped while trying to cross the Manukau Bar. Terangi Woonton, 59, and Kairanga Samuela, 53, died after the incident and three others were pulled from the water. They encountered large waves at the Manukau bar as they were heading back into the harbour and their boat was upturned.

* In May 2012, 45-year-old father So'saia Paasi and his 7-year-old son Tio drowned after their dinghy capsized. Three of Paasi's other children were rescued and hospitalised.

* The Manukau Harbour was also the site of New Zealand's worst maritime disaster, when the HMS Orpheus ran aground in February 1863, killing 189 of the 259 crew on board.