Two people have been rescued from the water at Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel.
A police spokeswoman said emergency services responded following reports of people in distress in the water about 11.10am.
Two people were rescued from the water, she said.
A St John spokeswoman said two ambulance and one rescue helicopter went to the scene and one person was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.
Another person in a minor condition declined transport to hospital.
