Latest from Water Safety

Piha: One swimmer missing, one treated

Conditions were "messy" were two people got into trouble at Piha yesterday, a resident said.

Lake Dunstan one of the 'safest'

Despite tragedy at the weekend, it is one of the "safest" lakes around, the harbourmaster says, because of the clearly-defined areas for passive recreation, such as swimming.

Woman dies after being pulled from sea

A woman has died at Taipa Beach in the Far North tonight.

Watch NZH Focus: The laws around life jackets

Join Tristram Clayton as he finds out what the laws around wearing life jackets in New Zealand are from Coastguard Northern Region's Operations Manager Ray Burge.

Kaipara searchers battled monster waves

Volunteer lifeguards battled waves up to 7m high as they desperately searched for survivors of the Kaipara charter boat tragedy.

Skipper's death 'devastating for all'

The skipper of the doomed fishing charter vessel Francie is among those who died in yesterday's tragedy.

Kaipara search: Choppy water, 2m swells

Choppy conditions face searchers looking for three people missing after a fishing charter trip turned to tragedy on the Kaipara Harbour yesterday.

Dinghy link to island mystery confirmed

A dinghy found floating near Brown's Island may be connected to the mysterious fire there, police have confirmed.

Husband drowns at wedding photo spot

A wife is distraught after her husband died at the beach where he posed for his wedding photo just seven months earlier.

Missing teen's uncle praises community support

The uncle of a Taranaki teen missing since his boat capsized six days ago has praised the support of the community, as the search continues for the 18-year-old's body.

Scuba dive firm to pay $70,000 after death

A scuba diving company has been ordered to pay $70,000 in reparations for failing to keep a Taiwanese tourist safe after she died while on a dive in the Coromandel.

Kiwis test beach duties Baywatch-style

There was no slow-motion running down a Californian beach for dozens of young Kiwi lifeguards who oversaw up to 10,000 beachgoers each day.

'I shouldn't have taken them in there'

Three inexperienced surfers are counting their lucky starfish after getting caught in a rip and being sucked out to sea yesterday.

Nick Smith: Pool fencing law boosts safety as well as practicality

COMMENT: The Govt is revising the 1987 Swimming Pools Act to make it more effective in saving kids and more practical for pool owners and councils.

Record-breaking season for surf life savers

Lifeguards made 581 rescues at beaches between Ahipara in the Far North and Raglan in the Waikato this summer.

Julie Chambers: Pool law changes will see little lives slip away

COMMENT: The Government is right now in the process of passing the Building (Pools) Amendment Act, writes Julie Chambers.

Petition for 'swimmable' rivers

Environment Minister Nick Smith says he will not commit to making every single waterway in NZ "swimmable" because it would be too complex and costly.

Thousands demand swimmable rivers

Just days after New Zealand's longest river failed a major health check, a grassroots group is petitioning Parliament demanding action.