The dangers on the water are the same as on the roads, so boaties should be licensed just like drivers, says the Pauanui-Tairua harbourmaster.

Three boaties who spent the night in Cook Strait could have been rescued much sooner.

Both of the men missing after their small boat capsized off Wellington's south coast last night have been found alive.

The bodies of two kayakers were found on Lake Wakatipu this morning.

While the weather is predicted to be perfect for taking to the water this long weekend, people are being warned that the sea can be particularly dangerous at this time of year.

A launch believed to be worth more than $400,000 was this morning lying wrecked on the Tauranga coast after hitting rocks.

The flight instructor who died in a helicopter crash "ate, drank and slept" aviation, a friend says.

A major search underway in Southland for a missing helicopter with a pilot and instructor on board will continue into the night.

A young man drowned in the Grey River in an attempt to avoid a drink-driving conviction, Coroner Richard McElrea has told an inquest.

The body of a missing 25-year-old swimmer was discovered in Wellington's Oriental Bay today.

Three people have been rescued at an east Auckland beach.

Team New Zealand is among dozens of organisations that have lost their charitable status in a crackdown by the new Charities Commission.