One dead, three hurt in second boating tragedy

One of the injured victims of the Mahia boating tragedy is winched to safety. Photo / Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter

Police have confirmed the man who died when a 12-foot boat flipped at Mahia, north of Wairoa on the East Coast, this morning was a 57-year-old local.

The man, whose details have not yet been released, was on the aluminium boat with another couple -- a 48-year-old man and his 40-year-old wife -- and their 16-year-old son when the vessel flipped.

Senior Sergeant Maui Aben said the foursome made their way to shore at the edge of a cliff at the end of Kinikini Rd in Mahia after the vessel overturned.

A local resident spotted the group and alerted emergency services about 10.30am.

"It is believed the 57-year-old man died on the beach after making it to shore," he said.

Two members of the family were flown to hospital from the beach.

One person had back injuries and another suffered minor injuries in the ordeal.

Police are investigating how the boat capsized, and were planning to interview the three couple and their son in due course, Mr Aben said.

Contrary to earlier reports, it is unclear whether a large wave caused the boat to flip.

One man died and another remains missing after setting off in a dinghy from near Warkworth on Tuesday.

In as statement released this afternoon, Maritime NZ said the two incidents marked "a tragic beginning to the boating season".

Spokeswoman Sophie Hazulhurst said both of the incidents were under investigation and it had yet to be established what had happened or what were the contributing factors.

"What we do know is that both incidents happened on small boats - around 4m. The vast majority of recreational boating fatalities do occur on boats under 6m. It's simply a fact that you are more vulnerable on small boats.

"The aim of Safer Boating Week is to remind boaties how quickly things can go wrong when out on the water, and to take steps to ensure that you are prepared to deal with whatever happens.

"Those steps include, wearing your lifejacket, taking two forms of reliable communications equipment with you, checking the weather forecast and avoiding alcohol."