A 19-month-old girl has drowned in Dargaville.

A small dinghy used by a man who fell into the Whangarei Harbour and drowned has been discovered by police, tied to a buoy where the fisherman was last seen.

The burial service for two brothers who drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne at the weekend will be held today.

Police have identified the body that was recovered from the Whanganui River yesterday as Jayden Tilby, 24.

The prayers of a grieving family were answered yesterday when a body believed to be that of missing teenager John Wakelin was found in the surf at Wainui Beach.

A novice boatie died in a cold Southland lake after the boat's powerful outboard motor broke free, leaving a hole in the hull.

Two young men who drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne on Saturday were "really neat kids", their father says.

New signs should be placed around a popular swimming spot after a man drowned trying to save his son, a coroner says.

Two brothers who drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne on Saturday have been named by police.

Two young men suspected of drowning at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne yesterday were brothers.

The last moments of Johnny Faitaua's life - laughing and shirtless in the sunshine - were captured on film by his girlfriend Hannah Elise as the pair enjoyed a day at O'Neill Bay beach.

A man who died after a boat capsized off the Kapiti Coast north of Wellington on Saturday has been named by police.

Two teenage cousins tried everything in their power to rescue a woman who drowned at a Northland beach, with one getting caught in a rip himself.

A 54-year-old woman has drowned at a Northland beach after being caught in a rip while boogie boarding.

The number of pre-schoolers who died in drowning incidents increased by 60 per cent last year, new figures show.

A woman in her 50s has died in a suspected drowning incident in Northland today.

The grandmother of an 11-year-old boy who died after he got caught in a rip says the tragedy highlights the need for more children to be taught water skills.

An elderly man drowned while swimming at a beach on the Kapiti Coast last night.

An 11-year-old boy who died after being caught in a rip at a Northland beach yesterday has been named.

A man who "sacrificed his own life" to save his two daughters and a 7-year-old niece from drowning is being hailed a hero by his whanau.

An intoxicated man who walked into the sea at a Christchurch beach fully clothed this morning is missing and presumed drowned.

Police have named three people who have died in water-related accidents so far this holiday season.

Family members of a missing teenager were keeping an emotional vigil on a Northland beach last night - the latest incident in a horror start to the holiday season in the water.

A man who died at a south Auckland beach yesterday was trying out a new surf board he received as a Christmas present.

Surf rescuers fear a sand bar whipped up by stormy weather on Northland's Uretiti Beach where a crab hunter drowned on Christmas Day will endanger more lives over the holidays.

A male surfer waved for help and was pulled from the ocean by a member of the public at a South Auckland beach today.

Family members arriving at a Christmas Day get-together found police cars outside the home after a little relative drowned in a swimming pool set up in the backyard.

A 1-year-old child has drowned in a temporary backyard pool at a residential address in Manurewa today.