Each death a 'heartbreaking tragedy', Water Safety NZ's Jonty Mills says.

The Swim Reaper will be targeting young men who mix alcohol and water sports this summer.

Maxwell McDonald has died after going for a swim on the West Coast during his birthday.

A child has drowned in the Auckland suburb of Epsom tonight.

A man who drowned was convicted of manslaughter in August after incident in 2015.

A boat capsized off Taranaki overnight.

A 5-year-old boy who drowned after falling from the Devonport wharf has been named.

Youngster slips from rescuers' hands in chilly harbour waters.

Tragedy strikes family after 2-year-old found unconscious in friend's pool.

Lifeguards warn campaigns to attract visitors to the regions increase the drowning risk.

A man who drowned off a Horowhenua beach had turned down the offer of a life jacket.

A 'stretch' to blame Whitianga Fire Station over Luke Cochrane's death.

The friends of missing Tevita Kava say they did not get a safety briefing on the boat.

Dad of two, Leslie Gelberger, went for a swim one day and never came home, what happened?

Family of drowned angler keen to meet the man who retrieved his body.

A body has been found in Wattle Bay, Manukau Heads, police say.

A father is still missing in the Manukau Harbour, an air search continues this afternoon.

Searchers will take to the skies at low tide to look for a missing fisherman.

Searchers have confirmed that the body of a 21-year-old student missing at Lake Karapiro has been found.

As preventable summer drownings hit a six-year high, Labour are calling for greater swimming education at schools to keep young Kiwia safe in our waterways.

Grown men cried on hearing news of death of popular young man after a summer afternoon swim.

Police name drowning victim.

'She'll be right' attitude will be the death of young men in our waters.

Rachael Louise De Jong's life was tragically cut short when she was swept down the Waikato River on Monday.

A man is believed to have suffered a medical event at a public swimming pool in east Auckland.

The young woman swept to her death when floodgates opened on Waikato River was a young Aucklander with an infectious smile that could "cheer anyone up".

Police have named a young woman who died when she was swept down the Waikato River yesterday.

Drowning a tragedy but dam flood to remain open as an attraction, says Taupo mayor.

The teenager who drowned after he was swept into the flooded Hutt River on Thursday was trying to rescue his friend.

An elderly man has died at a Nelson beach, despite attempts to rescue him.