An exhausted swimmer and her boyfriend have narrowly escaped drowning after being rescued by the support crew of the six lifeguards circumnavigating the country in two small rescue boats.

Follow the progress of six surf lifeguards circumnavigating the country in an inflatable rescue boat.

A snorkeller has been called the 'luckiest guy in the world' after his life was saved by two cruise boat skippers.

Bishop Thompson was buried wearing an All Blacks jersey - a fitting tribute to a teenager who had his heart set on one day making the team.

Police and Navy divers are continuing searching into the evening for the body of a teenage boy presumed dead after a jetski accident on a lake near Rotorua, while family and friends continue to hold vigil on the shoreline.

Education not legislation is the answer to improve safety on the water, Maritime NZ safety inspector Jim Lilley says.

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.

The drowning death toll will rise if school swimming lessons aren't made compulsory, the Government has been warned.

A teenager has died after reportedly competing with friends to see who could hold their breath underwater the longest.

Play it safe in the water and know your limits this summer, says Water Safety New Zealand.

Authorities are urging parents to stay within arm's reach of their children around water.