A post-mortem is likely to be carried out tomorrow on a decomposed body found on a west Auckland beach, police said. The identity of the body, found at South Head on Friday, had not yet been confirmed.

The national drowning toll for the first two months of the year rose to 35, after 15 drownings in February.

Jacob Beck-Jaffurs, who was in his final year of medical school, has died after a spear-fishing trip near Tauranga.

Wouldn't it be nice to know that your kids can swim? Even being able to dog paddle would do, because drowning often takes only a few seconds.

Six preschoolers have drowned so far this year - equalling the total for 2010 - and water safety campaigners say it is a shocking start to the year.

Continuing a spate of drownings this New Zealand summer, three people have died in the water this weekend - including two small children.

A 52-year-old man who drowned at Muriwai Beach west of Auckland last night paid the ultimate price for not heeding the warning signs at the notoriously dangerous swimming spot.

Little Nylah Faamanu Vau, 2, went for her first swim yesterday, but will never have another one - she drowned at Waiwera Thermal Resort north of Auckland.

A toddler is dead after drowning at Waiwera Thermal Resort on the Hibiscus Coast this afternoon.

Rescue launched as pair were dragged out to sea when surfcasting off a popular Hawke's Bay beach.