A boatie with a flat battery have wasted emergency services resources police say.

Coastguard vessels, an aircraft, police and a rescue helicopter all responded distress signal seen from a vessel off northern tip of Coromandel Peninsula yesterday.

Rescue resource wasted on ocean run around. Photo: stuff.co.nz.

The boatie set off a flare after they got a flat battery, sending emergency services into rescue mode.

The distress signal - a single buoyant orange smoke float - appeared to come from an area near Little Barrier Island.

About half an hour later a second vessel responded a Coastguard radio request for information, saying they had assisted the troubled boat with a flat battery.

The broken down boat and the boat that went to its aid left the area and the rescue was called off.

Police Maritime Unit Sergeant John Saunders said is was a waste of police and emergency service resources.

"This waste of rescue assets could have been avoided if people involved had stopped to think a little and used a marine radio in a timely manner," said Saunders.

Two other boats joined in the rescue as well.