Three bodies found on the shore at Māhia are believed to be the Gisborne fishermen reported missing earlier this week.
Authorities launched a search on Monday for the fishermen who went missing off Gisborne's coast, with their last communication being at about 10am on that day.
Maritime NZ said on Tuesday the African Tiger container vessel had spotted two people in the water off Māhia Peninsula, Hawke's Bay. Vessels were sent to try and locate the pair but severe weather meant the search had to be called off.
On Wednesday morning, it was revealed three bodies had been found in search for the missing men.
"Formal identification is ongoing but they are believed to be the fishermen reported missing on Monday," a police statement said. "Police's thoughts are with their families at this difficult time."
Roger Faber, the president of Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club, said the entire community is "devastated" at the outcome of the search.
"I'm broken to be quite honest, devastated - I can't put it into words," he told Melissa Chan-Green on AM on Wednesday morning.
"I feel for the family, friends, the whole community. These guys were known to everybody.
"Everyone had their hopes - especially yesterday - lifted when the two people were seen alive in the water."
Faber said the most distressing part of the search had been the fact the weather had hindered any real chance of a rescue.
"The worst part of this whole thing all is we've been unable to do anything. Every boat in this marina would have been out looking, but the conditions haven't allowed us to do anything.
"The coastguard got two-thirds of the way there and had to turn back - that was devastating."
"[These are] well known Gisborne lads, involved in the sporting community. The majority of the town would know [at least] one of these guys very well."
General Manager of the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, Justin Allan, said it was a difficult and complex search and rescue operation.
"Weather conditions in the area were severe, and rescuers went right to their limits to get to the area we received reports the people in the water were, confirm their location and attempt to remove them from the sea.
"Responders from the region, as well as rescue aircraft sourced from across the North Island had to battle atrocious conditions; including swells of up to and at times more than six metres, 50 knot winds and low visibility, showing how determined they were to reach the men in the water.
"Unfortunately, the sea and weather conditions were too severe."
What happened?
The trio left Gisborne Harbour on Monday morning for a day fishing for bluefin tuna.
Two other boats did as well. Roger Faber, the president of Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club, was on one them.
"Unfortunately once the morning went on it got worse and worse and in late morning we started to pull the pin," Faber said on Tuesday. "We hoped that they'd decided to come in earlier but then found that their trailer was still at the boat ramp and concerns came, and we decided to get in touch with police and Coastguard."
That resulted in a major search and rescue operation including a helicopter, the Air Force and Coastguard.
"The three lads on board are all Gisborne locals, well-known to everybody. The skipper is a well-known local game fisherman," Faber said.
