An aeroplane pilot has dropped off emergency supplies to a trans-Tasman kayaker hundreds of kilometres off the New Zealand coast.
NZ pilot John Funnell made the dash from New Plymouth on Friday morning to make the air drop to kayaker Scott Donaldson, who has struck trouble in his attempt to be the first person to kayak solo between Australia and New Zealand.
A spokesman for Mr Funnell told AAP that the pilot had no trouble finding Mr Donaldson in clear weather conditions.
Three packages of food and water were dropped to the kayaker just after 1pm, and the plane stayed above Mr Donaldson for around an hour.
The plane was expected to take about two-and-a-half hours to reach the 43-year-old, who is battling five-metre swells.
Mr Donaldson left Coffs Harbour in NSW in April and hit trouble just 15 days from reaching his goal and 300 nautical miles west of New Plymouth, running out of food.
Overcast conditions also mean his solar-powered desalination plant doesn't have enough power to supply him with the water he needs.
It is his second attempt to cross the Tasman after technical difficulties forced him to turn back last year.
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