A RNZAF Orion has failed to find any sign of six young people missing in a small craft in the Pacific.

Maritime New Zealand has launched an inquiry into the Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands vessel Excitor III after several passengers were injured, including one woman who had to spend 12 weeks in a body brace.

Eight people hurt in a collision between two boats in the Marlborough Sounds yesterday have been discharged from hospital.

Education not legislation is the answer to improve safety on the water, Maritime NZ safety inspector Jim Lilley says.

Navy divers with sonar equipment will join police tomorrow in the search for a teenage boy presumed dead after a jetski accident near Rotorua.

The dangers on the water are the same as on the roads, so boaties should be licensed just like drivers, says the Pauanui-Tairua harbourmaster.

The mother of a 13-year-old injured when a jetski rammed his boat has defended letting him and his mate, 11, go on the water alone.

A teenage jetskier was killed yesterday when he fell off and was run down by friends. It was one of two horrifying water accidents involving young people in popular holiday spots.

An inquiry has laid blame on both anti-whaling vessel Ady Gil and a Japanese whaling ship for their Southern Ocean crash earlier this year.

While the weather is predicted to be perfect for taking to the water this long weekend, people are being warned that the sea can be particularly dangerous at this time of year.

A launch believed to be worth more than $400,000 was this morning lying wrecked on the Tauranga coast after hitting rocks.

Two boaties were injured - but miraculously survived - when their launch was cut in two and sucked under the Waiheke ferry.