A fisherman drowned and a kite-surfer may be lost at sea after two searches off the coast of Taranaki yesterday afternoon.

Safety fears were raised months ago over the super-fast yacht in which Olympic gold-medallist Andrew Simpson died, it was revealed last night.

A 64-year-old South Wairarapa woman died while snorkelling with her husband on Monday near Martinborough.

A push is being made for Cape Kidnappers beach warning signs to be done in several languages in an attempt to avoid a repeat of a Friday night rescue from a beach isolated by the rising tide.

Severe weather which hit the Bay of Plenty over the weekend, including swells of up to four metres at Astrolabe Reef, have caused the release of plastic beads from a damaged container in the sunken stern of the Rena.

A Navy diver says he nearly drowned when his mask failed while he was deep in the sea to retrieve the plane wreckage in which 2degrees boss Eric Hertz and his wife died.

Authorities have blasted the actions of a group of yachties in Tauranga after a cargo ship had to take evasive action to avoid them.

Divers have joined the search for a 73-year-old yachtie who went missing in mysterious circumstances last night.

A New Zealander rescued from a stricken yacht in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has been left penniless after thieves stripped her vessel when it washed up in Australia.

A woman has fed herself and held her children for the first time since a surfing accident left her paralysed.

An anxious mother cried tears of gratitude and relief after her 12-year-old son was dragged from the surf in a dramatic rescue at Napier's Marine Parade yesterday.

The father of a 12-year-old boy who was swept out to sea in heavy surf in Napier has thanked rescuers for forming a human chain that saved his son's life.

Adam Strange's closest friends and family said goodbye with a bang at sunset last night, echoing a cheeky joke of long ago.

Thirteen children were among 79 people in the Bay of Plenty caught not wearing lifejackets as they headed out to sea this summer.

The close-knit Muriwai community struggles to come to terms with the loss of a friend and surf club supporter, Adam Strange.

Two naked fishermen had to make a desperate swim to Matakana Island after their kayak sank in Tauranga Harbour.

A seven-year-old boy and his father suffered leg injuries when their boat exploded in a Picton harbour today.

A Mangawhai marine company has been ordered to pay $30,000 after a boat explosion injured three people, including one who suffered permanent hearing loss.

Auckland yachtsman Gary Carruthers watched in shock as the overloaded boat motored past him between Station and Mullet bays on Saturday afternoon.

The trial of a Bluff woman who has denied charges laid after the sinking of her fishing boat Easy Rider last year will probably take one week.

Friends and colleagues have paid respects to Kiwi journalist Rebecca Davidson, who was killed in a boat collision in the Seychelles this weekend.

Lifejackets saved the lives of boaties in two water emergencies as people took to the lakes and seas this weekend.