In the latest incident, an Indonesian studying in Sydney, 22-year-old Yessica Asmin, was swept away in a river last Monday. It might have been in an out-of-the-way place - Fiordland - but it was on one of this country's ''great walks'', the Milford Track.
Many hundreds of people of differing abilities walk the route each year and, while the weather can be wild and flooding is not uncommon, fatalities on the track itself are uncommon.
After such tragedies, and when a young woman with a bright future is taken, the grief of families and closest friends is inconsolable. It all seems, and is, such a waste.
In such situations, it is not surprising there is sometimes a desire to look for blame. German backpacker Sebastian Keilholz, who was with Miss Asmin and her boyfriend, Sean Mcnabb, of Sydney, and who was injured trying to save the young woman, has reportedly expressed anger towards the Department of Conservation, saying he would never have gone on ''such a dangerous track'' if he knew there were no bridges. Others, no doubt, wonder if enough is done to warn of the dangers of New Zealand rivers.
It is a fundamental fact the back country has hazards. Appropriate experience and judgement is required, just as it is to drive on our roads.
Not only must there be personal responsibility, but life is not without risks and, sadly, accidents will occur. The alternative would be a cotton-wool society where the track would simply be closed between May and the end of October. Another opportunity for people to experience the outdoors and push outside their comfort zones would be lost.
As it is, the Department of Conservation pamphlet and online site for the Milford Track does include warnings about ''winter tramping''.
There is an ''alert'' symbol and advice that avalanche-prone bridges have been removed.
There is also a further warning under a winter tramping link about ensuring ''all in your party are suitably fit and experienced in winter tramping, including navigation skills, river crossings, alpine conditions, safety judgement''.
In fact, during May, once booking for the huts is no longer required and costs are lower, the huts at weekends can be crowded. This is usually before the most serious winter hazard of all, avalanches, become a danger.
Later in the season and in early spring, there are times of snow instability when even the most experienced mountaineers would avoid putting themselves in the way of many potential avalanche paths on the track.
Rivers, however, are a possible peril any time of the year, including side streams which easily become torrents. As the Mountain Safety Council says: ''Rivers are one of the greatest hazards in the New Zealand Outdoors. Errors of judgement often have serious consequences.''
There are about three river-crossing deaths a year, and 80% of these are in flooded rivers or side streams.
''It's not only the untrained who die,'' the council says.
''Experienced and skilled people have drowned after being tempted to give it a go against their better judgement. You should not take any river crossing lightly: the risks are too great.''
The number one rule, then, is if in doubt don't cross. It is far better to seek some sort of shelter and wait. New Zealand side streams can also fall as quickly as they rise, and the temptation to risk all to get to the nearby or next hut must be resisted.
There are judgements about current depth and speed, the runout, the riverbed, the clarity of the water as well as stronger mutual support techniques.
The underlying message is about the power of flowing water, and New Zealand has lots of that.
Anyone outside the confines of a summer walk on a main track in good conditions needs to be aware of the hazard.
Just as New Zealanders going to the desert or the jungle need to learn about risks in a foreign milieu, so visitors here need to be aware of the primary dangers of hypothermia, falls, avalanches - and rivers.
