Two people have died in separate incidents in the water north of Auckland today, one near Goat Island and another off Pakiri Beach.
Pakiri Beach Photo: Creative Commons / Piotr Zurek
The police were called to the scene off Goat Island about 3.50pm.
They say two men had tried to help the swimmer who was struggling close to the beach.
However, the swimmer died at the scene.
At Pakiri Beach north of Auckland, one person has died and another was been flown to North Shore Hosptial after a water rescue.
Police were called to the beach about 1.30pm. They said four people were in trouble in the water.
One died at the scene, while another was flown to hospital and two children were treated at the beach.
There have been 18 preventable drowning deaths in the country this year to March 2, according to Water Safety New Zealand.
There had been 24 by the same time last year.