Three people have drowned and a teenager is missing after separate incidents today at three North Island beaches.
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A 3-year-old child died after an incident at the lagoon at Ocean Beach near Hastings shortly after 2pm today.
The boy had been swimming at the lagoon at the beach with his extended family and friends.
Surf life saving staff performed CPR for almost an hour but he died at the scene.
Senior Sergeant Dan Foley said police were investigating and the death had been referred to the coroner.
He said it was a reminder for holiday makers to be careful around the water and that drownings could happen in a matter of seconds.
Meanwhile, a woman in her 40s and a 33-year-old man have died after getting into trouble in the water near Raglan at about 5.30pm today.
Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the remote Ruapuke Beach, where they found the woman dead, while another person was seriously ill when they were pulled from the water.
The man's body was found a short time ago.
Police said it was not clear what had happened because of language difficulties.
The survivor has been flown by rescue helicopter to hospital, and volunteers were continuing to look for the missing man.
In a third incident, a teenager is also missing off the coast of Whanganui after being swept out to sea in a rip.
Emergency services were called just before 4pm after reports of a 17-year-old had been swept out to sea from Castle Cliff Beach.
Police search and rescue, the Coastguard and two helicopters stood down their search for the night shortly after 9pm.