Drag netting trio 'never wore lifejackets'

The water near Port Waikato is notorious for its strong rips. Photo / Christine Cornege

The two brothers who are presumed drowned off Port Waikato never wore life jackets or took safety precautions when they were fishing, a family member says.

Makamapuhia and 'Aisea Tatafu were swept away while they were net fishing on Monday afternoon with another relative, Hopapi Pepa.

Mr Pepa's body was pulled from the water by teenage surf lifesavers but he could not be revived.

While the three men fished 'Aisea's wife, who is pregnant, and their two children waited onshore with Mr Pepa's two sons.

Niece Sesilia Tonga told the Herald last night Makamapuhia usually left the fishing to his brother, but came along because it was a public holiday and he didn't have to work.

She wasn't surprised to hear they didn't have life jackets on.

"Usually they go out fishing without proper safety equipment," she said. They also wore heavy clothing.

Police had told the family the brothers were probably dead because of the length of time they'd been in the cold water.

"All we are doing now is praying that they find the bodies ..."

Makamapuhia also has four children who weren't on the fishing trip. Ms Tonga said those who were there had been waiting at their van when the three men were swept away.

The brothers' mother and sister live in the village of 'Umusi in Tonga, with most of the extended family.

"We're shocked. This has been so sad for us."

The men were fishing in an outgoing tide about 2km north of the Waikato River mouth at Karioitahi Beach.

The river mouth is notorious for its dangerous rips and currents.

Senior constable Gary Learmonth said police were joined by land search and rescue and surf lifesavers scouring 10km of beach in the search for the two men.

He said the operation was now "a body recovery mission".

"Whether they were near a hole or got caught in a rip we just don't know, without any eye witnesses it's really hard to tell."

The Herald spoke to locals fishing for whitebait near the mouth of the Waikato River, two of whom had heard the men may have had their fishing net tied to their ankles as they fished for flounder.

One man, who asked not to be named, said the beach was dangerous and had rips and holes.

"I wouldn't go out with a net, not out there and not with it tied to my ankle," he said.

Mr Learmonth said the men having the net tied to their ankles was "a possibility".

"We don't know if that was the case in this instance; the net was recovered and they weren't attached to it," he said.

He said the search for the missing men would continue today. He was hopeful a turbulent incoming tide may help to return their bodies to the shore.

Contrary to earlier reports, the deceased man's children had been taken to Kariaotahi Surf Life Saving Club and were being cared for by lifeguards when their father's body was brought to shore.

The children were wet and cold and were treated for mild hypothermia.

National lifesaving manager for Surf Life Saving New Zealand Andy Kent said Labour Weekend had been a tragic start to the season for surf lifeguards.

He said people needed to check weather and tide conditions and beprepared.

"It has been a very sad first weekend of patrols for lifeguards who did an outstanding job handling a very difficult situation and dangerous conditions."

"Every summer we see consistencies in drowning incidents where people are wearing inappropriate clothing without safety equipment such as life jackets.

"Many are unaware of hazardous surf conditions and rips."