Two girls have been saved after their inflatable dinghy was swept out to sea off the Kaikoura coast today.
Rescuers are believed to have dragged the teenagers' dinghy back to shore. Both swallowed water and one required hospital treatment.
Police were called to the beach in Kaikoura just before 11am but it was not yet clear how the girls got in to trouble.
Senior Sergeant Tony Ellis said the numerous drownings and water rescue incidents throughout New Zealand in the past week should serve as a warning to others to be careful while in the water over the holiday season.
