A novice boatie died in a cold Southland lake after the boat's powerful outboard motor broke free, leaving a hole in the hull.

Queenstown's harbourmaster isn't impressed after four men he advised to get off their inflatable airbed floated under bungy jumpers - and were fined.

Two young men who drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne on Saturday were "really neat kids", their father says.

New signs should be placed around a popular swimming spot after a man drowned trying to save his son, a coroner says.

The number of pre-schoolers who died in drowning incidents increased by 60 per cent last year, new figures show.

A woman in her 50s has died in a suspected drowning incident in Northland today.

The grandmother of an 11-year-old boy who died after he got caught in a rip says the tragedy highlights the need for more children to be taught water skills.

A person got into difficulty and was pulled from the water breathing and conscious at Whananaki North yesterday afternoon.

A male is missing in the water at Bethells Beach on Auckland's West Coast.

The holiday drowning toll is a "huge disappointment", Water Safety New Zealand says.

Man who died saving his young niece from drowning at a South Taranaki beach yesterday has been named by police.

The Hauraki Gulf is at its most alluring - glassy calm and sparkling blue in the sunlight - and thousands of Aucklanders in small boats hover above the fishing reefs.

Wayne August appeared to be drunk when he walked into the surf at New Brighton beach wearing long pants and a T-shirt.

The discovery of Jarod Lineses three kilometres north of Hukatere brings to end a five-day vigil by his family after he was dragged out to sea.

A shark hooked by a fisherman that "tail-walked" before breaking free may well have been a great white, a passing charter skipper says.

Family tells how their holiday sightseeing trip turned into rescue operation after spotting stricken men in the water: "You just think about trying to find the next person."

Partygoers will be swapping their sunglasses and sunblock for umbrellas and rain jackets to see in the New Year as the brilliant weather that has brightened the holidays looks set to pass.

A body recovery operation for a 16-year-old boy who was swept out to sea in Northland on Saturday afternoon is being launched today.

Police have named three people who have died in water-related accidents so far this holiday season.

Family members of a missing teenager were keeping an emotional vigil on a Northland beach last night - the latest incident in a horror start to the holiday season in the water.

The woman, in her 20s, fell down a steep cliff and into the river below, striking her head on the way down.

As thousands of holidaymakers get set to hit the beach and boaties prepare to launch, warnings are being issued about staying safe.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) says people should keep in mind a few safety tips to ensure they and their families get through the summer injury-free.

The search for a Warkworth fisherman who has been missing for more than a week is continuing.

Maritime safety agencies and police will be out in force at launching ramps and jetties over Labour weekend to explain Auckland Council's new rules on wearing life jackets in small boats.