A 70-year-old woman is dead after being swept out to sea while walking along the Kohaihai River, on the West Coast of the South Island, yesterday.
The woman was walking with her partner along the water's edge in the Kahurangi National Park when they were taken by surprise at about 3.30pm, police say.
"Despite the efforts of the woman's partner, he was unable to prevent her being swept away," Sergeant Paul Watson said.
A search and rescue operation was launched and the woman's body was recovered from the sea, several kilometres north of where she was swept away, about two hours later.
Conditions at the time were fine and clear, with a large swell coming on to shore, Watson said.
The matter has been referred to the Coroner.
The death brings to four the number of people to die in New Zealand waters over the weekend, while a fifth death occurred when a diver died off the Otago Peninsula on Friday night.
