Latest from Royal NZ Coastguard

New high-tech Coastguard centre

A new high tech operations centre has been officially opened at the Coastguard northern region headquarters in Auckland this morning.

Three divers rescued off Kapiti Island

Body of missing diver found

Surf lifesavers to launch summer patrols

Surf lifesavers are launching their summer patrols over Labour Weekend, but a mixed bag of weather could deter some would-be beachgoers from taking a splash.

Boaties clung to single lifejacket

Two boaties clung desperately to a single life jacket off the Horowhenua coast while rescuers came painfully close but could not see them in the dark, a coroner has found.

One dead after boat capsizes

A man has died after the boat he was in capsized in the sea off Northland today.

New Zealand's water safety champion named

A Bluff woman has been named New Zealand's champion of water safety.

Rescuers frustrated by need to save gear

Local politician dies while fishing

The body of a local politician has been found in Lake Wanaka, after his family raised the alarm when he failed to return from a fly-fishing trip at the Makarora River mouth.

When the boat comes in

They reckon everyone’s looking at us because they think we’re cops. I’m not so sure. I think it’s more that we’re the only boat on the gulf without a fishing rod.

Grants purse increasing to $14m

Aucklanders' rates have given a $46 million boost to 10 rescue, safety, arts and cultural groups in the past four years and a further $14 million gift is proposed for the 2013-14 year.

Rescued swimmer nearly gave up

Fisherman swept to his death named

A fisherman who died after being swept down the Motu River has been identified as 41-year-old Benjamin Robert Tekira from Waimana, near Whakatane.

Family find body of man taken by river

The body of a 41-year-old man was found last night after he was swept away while trying to cross an East Coast river earlier in the day.

Fisherman found dead

The body of a man has been found, hours after he was swept away at the Motu rivermouth near Whakatane today.

Unneeded searches frustrate police

An unnecessary search and rescue callout on New Year's Day has police urging holidaymakers to advise others before starting off on expeditions.

10-metre launch catches fire in Hauraki Gulf

Jetskier rescue: 'Sheer stupidity'

Family members of a Northland father and son caught in rough weather when their jetski broke down headed back out to retrieve the jetski after the rescue.