drowning

A 20-year-old tourist has drowned at an Auckland beauty spot.

The devastated father of the skipper, killed today when his boat capsized near Greymouth, has spoken about the pain of losing is only son in the tragedy.

Three people drowned in New Zealand waters this official Christmas holiday period - between 4pm Christmas Eve and 6am today.

A mother has been hailed a hero after she drowned trying to save her son yesterday.

A 3-year-old boy has drowned in a swimming pool at his Northland farm home.

Police have today named the man who drowned on Saturday evening while snorkelling south of Kaikoura.

A 57-year-old man has drowned trying to save two young relatives who got into trouble collecting pipi in Tauranga Harbour.

Police have released the name of the swimmer who drowned while trying to cross the mouth of the Mokihinui River, 46km northeast of Westport, on Tuesday afternoon.

The drowning toll reached an eight-year high last year, with experts describing it as a tragic increase on the previous year's record low.

An Oregon man raced along the Clackamas River but couldn't keep up with his 6-year-old daughter who had fallen into the stream and was swept on downriver, authorities said.