Hamish Rieger spent his last lifeguard shift helping a 5-year-old with a blue-bottle jellyfish sting, and helping one of his mates out of the surf.

A man in his 30s has been rescued from a near-drowning in Piha this afternoon.

The Mt Maunganui teenager who drowned after being swept off rocks had just finished his shift as a surf lifeguard.

Schools are turning to fundraising website Givealittle to help keep pools open and Water Safety NZ is concerned about the effect on drowning rates if pools are allowed to close.

A young Auckland man got caught up in a rip and was dragged 20m out to sea.

Two teenage girls had to be rescued from the Manukau Harbour after drifting 1.5km off-shore on an inflatable swan.

A candlelight vigil has been held at Castlecliff Beach for teenager Jordan James Marshall who drowned there on Christmas Day.

Tamahou Wanoa's whanau have been left wondering what went wrong after he drowned while freediving for kaimoana off the East Cape yesterday.

Lifesavers are urging caution after the drowning toll for the year passed 100 yesterday. Here are some safety tips.

The off-duty police constable was with her partner and their children when she spotted a hand in the air in the ocean frantically waving for help.

Cory Edgecombe Lilley was swept away while swimming at Raglan on Thursday. His family are still holding out hope of finding him.

Two heroes jumped into a swollen North Island river to save the life of a woman swept away.

The Government wants to repeal the Swimming Pool Fencing Act of 1987, a comprehensive act that has saved at least 21 children since its introduction.

With Labour Weekend sun also comes the start of the surf life saving patrol season.

The Waikato District Council has failed in its High Court bid to oust the current Waingaro Hot Springs owners after years of repairs to the site went ignored.

Water slides at a Melbourne pool have been shut down after 12 people were overcome by strong chlorine fumes.

The Coastguard is issuing a reminder to all boaties to carry out maintenance and safety checks after ten different boats called for assistance.

Police have located a body floating in the water between Waiheke and Motuihe Islands.

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue helicopter was sent to help a fishing boat about 48km off Westport, Westland, yesterday afternoon.

Terrifying footage of a mega shark attacking a tiny boat in New Zealand waters is making fresh waves online.

Sonny Bill Williams has posted a picture of his daughter on social media last night, sharing her first swim with his 443,000 followers on Twitter.

The body of a female has been recovered from Rangitata beach in the South Island.

A paddle boarder who was believed to be missing has been located by police and is safe and sound.

Documents show there were 13 near-misses at Auckland pools recorded last year, most involving children.

Hundreds of swimmers will race in the King of the Bays event on Auckland's North Shore today, but one competitor has a special motivation for taking part.

The boat of two fishermen missing from Port Waikato since Monday may never be recovered, police say.

The search for two fishermen missing at Port Waikato enters its third day today. The police Eagle helicopter will search the area near the mouth of the river.

The air search today for the two missing fisherman was unsuccessful, police say.

A fisherman missing with a friend after crossing the Port Waikato Bar usually stayed clear of the notoriously dangerous stretch of water.