The local hapu has placed a rahui on the area where the drowning occurred.
The incident happened about 7pm after three people - poor swimmers, believed to be foreigners - got into difficulty in the water north of the Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club. Lifeguards and members of the public assisted with the rescue.
The lifeguards out at Waimarama, and Ocean Beach where I often go, do a fantastic job and once again deserve credit for their rescue efforts as do all the locals who got involved.
The rescue helicopter crew, who never really know what they are going to find when they go out on a job, also deserve praise as, do St John Ambulance and the police who were in attendance on Sunday.
More details of what actually happened will continue to come out this week, but once again it highlights the dangers of ocean swimming.
Safety for yourself and especially your children should be the number one priority when going to the beach.
One person drowning is one too many.