Three people are in hospital tonight after a boat overturned off Port Waikato

Police were told of their plight off the Port Waikato bar about 5.30 this afternoon.

By 6pm the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter arrived, and assisted by the Police Eagle helicopter began to search the Waikato west coast.

The Eagle helicopter found them.

The Westpac helicopter then attempted to winch a paramedic down to the people in the water but conditions thwarted them.

The Westpac chopper then dragged an inflatable that the three patients had been able to clamber aboard through rough surf making their beach landing challenging.

The Westpac crew performed CPR on a woman in her 30s on route to Auckland City Hospital.

The child in a critical condition is now in Starship Children's Hospital.

A male patient was was taken to hospital by ambulance in a minor condition.