Five people were taken to Tauranga Hospital after getting into trouble at Pukehina Beach.
Two children aged about 9 and 12, were swimming off Pukehina Parade away from the patrolled area around 11am on Friday when a large wave came in and took the younger child out to sea.
Three adults, believed to be related to the children, went in after them and managed get them back to shore safely.
The five were not injured but taken to hospital as a precaution. A Pukehina Volunteer Firefighter spokesperson said he understood the family to be holiday-makers.
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