Search and rescue efforts are to resume this morning for a woman suspected of entering the sea off the Kāpiti Coast in a stolen kayak.

Police say a woman took the yellow two-person kayak from a Raumati property about 8pm Saturday and was seen entering the water.

The person who alerted police lost sight of the woman half an hour later.

The woman was wearing a long-sleeved red top and grey trackpants, and carrying a white and pink bag.

Police, Coastguard and rescue helicopter searched last night until just after midnight.