Richie McCaw aka the man who can do everything takes a turn on a South Island lake. Video / Richie McCaw via Facebook

Stills from footage taken by a Piha local of 'extremely rough' conditions when a group of eight teens were taken into a rip by a surfing instructor.

The national drowning toll for the first two months of the year rose to 35, after 15 drownings in February.

Two teenagers involved in a jetski incident in which Rotorua teenager Bishop Thompson died will face charges.

Six preschoolers have drowned so far this year - equalling the total for 2010 - and water safety campaigners say it is a shocking start to the year.

Continuing a spate of drownings this New Zealand summer, three people have died in the water this weekend - including two small children.

Little Nylah Faamanu Vau, 2, went for her first swim yesterday, but will never have another one - she drowned at Waiwera Thermal Resort north of Auckland.

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.