Five divers rescued in Far North, lifeguards sign off for winter

Ruakaka Volunteer surf lifeguards Emma Dutton, 15, Brodie Mackereth, 14, Abby Wright, 15, Rose Linton, 18 and Samantha Dutton, 15. Photo/Tania Whyte

Five divers had to be plucked from the water in the Far North after the boat they were with struck mechanical problems and drifted nearly four kilometres.

It was the third water-related emergency in Northland over the Easter weekend.

Sergeant Jim Adamson from Northland Police search and rescue said the diving group had gone into the water at Taheke Rock, near the Cavalli Islands at 10.30am yesterday. While the divers were underwater the boat suffered mechanical difficulties meaning it was unable to stay in the drop off location and was drifting away from the divers.

The Coastguard Operations Centre received a call from the vessel at 11.05am and paged its sea and air volunteers and relayed the message to private boats in the area.

The divers were found about 3.7 kilometres from their entry point, in two groups by two private boats around 12.30pm.

On Saturday, Emergency services scrambled to Te Paki, south of Cape Reinga, after a report of "people being swept off some rocks" about 5.45pm.

A police spokeswoman said at 7pm the Rescue Coordination Centre had told police one woman had been washed off rocks but she had been rescued and was driving herself home.

Meanwhile surf lifesaving clubs around Northland had reported good crowds and conditions for their last weekend of the season.

Whangārei Heads Volunteer Surf Lifesaving club captain Josh Maxwell said the beach had gone quiet in recent weeks, but numbers of swimmers and beachgoers had jumped right back up for the weekend with around 120 turning out each day.

Maxwell said there had been one incident late Sunday afternoon where two people were believed to have struck trouble after the lifeguards had finished patrolling for the day.

He said by the time lifeguards had returned to the beach the incident had been dealt with by emergency services.

Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving patrol captain Connor Makereth said it had "been a good weekend".

It had been sunny, the water was still "pretty warm" and it had been "real flat" which was good for swimming.

Lifeguards had counted around 100 people on the beach and 40 swimmers each day.

He said there were no rescues, but lifeguards had been busy with prevention work.

Waipu Cove chairman Tim Manning said about 300 people ventured on to the beach each day and about 50 got in the water.

Mangawhai Heads Surf lifesaving patrol member John Drucker said their numbers had peaked at over 350 on the beach and around 90 in the water.

They had not been needed for an aquatic rescue but helped a woman who had injured her ankle on a nearby walkway.

With the last of the summer weather still around, Northland's lifeguards are reminding people of some safety tips: "Don't swim alone, know your limits, and if in doubt, stay out".

Drucker said people should be aware of a fixed rip around 200 metres north of the surf club at Mangawhai.