In an unusual move, a Tauranga police officer is appealing to an offender's better sense after a flare sighting ‘wasted' Search and Rescue resources at the weekend.

Sergeant Craig Madden would like whoever set off the distress flare at Mount Maunganui on Saturday night to 'man up, and fess up”.

Sergeant Craig Madden is calling for the person responsible for setting off a distress flare at the weekend to come forward.

'It might have seemed a bit of fun at the time” says Craig, 'but the person responsible must be made aware of their consequences of their actions”.

In this case consequences involved the deployment of considerable resources, costing about $5000.

The Port of Tauranga pilot vessel ‘Arataki' was first to search the area around Moturiki Island and found nothing.

Two Coastguard vessels then joined in, as well as IRBs from Mount Maunganui and Omanu surf life saving clubs.

'There's also the risk of being on the water at night” says Craig. 'And we had to dispatch a two man police cruiser.”

'Do the sums…add up all the man hours and fuel costs and the bill will probably come to about $5000. That's a huge cost for an act of stupidity.

'It's just very, very disappointing”.

Craig hopes the culprit will now show 'a bit of maturity and come forward”.

'If they are truly remorseful then I am sure we could arrange diversion.”

Do you know the culprit? Contact Tauranga Police on 07 5774300.