An American woman dies after becoming pinned under a rock when a family rafting trip on the Mohaka River turned to tragedy yesterday.

A former television stuntwoman, whom rescuers spent 25 minutes reviving after a near-drowning on New Year's Day, has died after she was sent home from hospital.

An 11-year-old boy watched his father drown at a Far North beach yesterday as he tried to retrieve the boy's boogie board.

Australian police hold grave fears for a New Zealand fisherman missing off the coast of Tasmania.

Figures released today showed 98 people drowned last year, the second lowest annual toll since records began in 1980.

One fisherman drowned and three others spent hours clinging to their boat after it capsized in the mouth of the Manukau Harbour.

Surf lifesavers are pleading with the public to take care in the water after a spate of drownings.

A grieving son whose father drowned after holding him above water has paid tribute to the loving family man.

A father gave his life to save his son in the sea south of Auckland yesterday afternoon.

A teenager's New Year's Day fun turned to tragedy after he jumped from a 24m waterfall and never surfaced.

A notoriously dangerous stretch of Northland beach has claimed the life of an Auckland man trying to pull his grandchildren from a rip.

Men and unsupervised children will be the focus of beach safety campaigns this summer.