An Auckland man is the first water-related fatality this summer season after it is suspected he hit his head and fell while getting off his yacht in the Bay of Islands.
Emergency services were called to Opua about 1.50pm on Sunday when the 69-year-old man was found by a member of the public in the water at the marina at Opua.
Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said the man was unable to be revived and police were contacting family members. Police confirmed there was nothing suspicious and the file would be handed to the coroner.
Mr Robinson said it was a tragic accident and he hoped an autopsy, scheduled for yesterday, would help with confirming exactly what had happened.
It was one of three water-related deaths in New Zealand over the first weekend of summer with a man believed to have drowned in Tauranga on Saturday after falling off a boat at Sulphur Point. On Friday afternoon St John ambulance crews and police rushed to Maori Bay, west of Auckland, shortly after 3.30pm where a 21-year-old man had died.
With more people expected to take advantage of Northland's beautiful coastline, in what is forecast to be a hot summer, water safety officials are pleading with people to be safe in the water.
So far this year seven people have drowned (not including Sunday's death) in water around Northland. Six males and one female make up the tragic toll of preventable drownings.
Four of the deaths were in the Far North area while the rest happened in the Whangarei and Kaipara area. The last five years have seen an average of 11 preventable drownings each year in the region.
One person who knows first hand the trauma involved with a drowning is Waipu's Senior Constable Martin Geddes.
He has been a driving force behind the Bream Bay Safety Ambassador patrols on Ruakaka
Beach which aims at educating beachgoers about the dangers of the beach and in particular those fishing for crabs.
In February this year a 38-year-old man from Auckland was the fifth male of Asian decent to die while fishing for crabs at Bream Bay since 2011.
It will be the third season the ambassadors will patrol the beach and Mr Geddes said they would start on December 15 as the crowds started to head for the beautiful stretch of coastline.
He had noticed an increase already in the numbers of people crabbing at the beach. What was heartening was a number of them were wearing lifejackets.
"The patrols make a difference. It's helping people and educating them about how to keep themselves safe, especially those catching crabs and getting them to wear lifejackets.
"A couple of years ago it was rare to see people wearing a lifejacket but now I'm sure it's saving lives."
He wanted to gather a team of about 10 volunteers for the patrols and was keen to stress they did not need to be able to swim.
"They are the eyes and ears and if there is something to be reported it will be a matter of contacting the surf patrols or calling 111."
Anyone interested about the ambassador programme is invited to a meeting at the Ruakaka Surf Club at 5.30pm tomorrow.
Water Safety New Zealand CEO Jonty Mills said every drowning was a tragedy for a family and a community and while enjoying the water was part of Kiwi life, the dangers were real and things could change quickly.
"Remember the water safety code. Be prepared, watch out for yourself and each other, be aware of the dangers, know your limits and avoid alcohol and you'll come home safely at the end of the day."
Safety tips included wearing a lifejacket when fishing from rocks, wear a lifejacket out boating and carry two forms of waterproof communication.