Three people have been rescued after their inflatable boat sank off Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands on Saturday, and their call to 111 disconnected before they could give any information.

A police spokesperson said when they tried to call back, the call went straight to voicemail. Police then got in touch with Coastguard.

However, a spokesperson for Coastguard said the service was not involved in rescuing the boaties who were picked up by a passing boat.

The spokesperson said a member of the public contacted Coastguard to say the 7m inflatable had sunk and they had picked up the people from the water.

Police said they were advised at 11.20am that the people had been taken to shore at Urupukapuka Bay.

There are three Department of Conservation campsites on the island, including one at Urupukapuka Bay, all of which are only accessible by boat.

No information was available as to why the boat sank.

Do you know more? Email erin.johnson@stuff.co.nz