Six people died in drownings during the holiday season Water Safety New Zealand says were preventable.
Photo: Supplied / Surf Lifesaving NZ
The official summer holiday period ran from Tuesday, 24 December to 3 January.
The six preventable drownings was less than the average of eight over the last five years.
Chief executive Jonty Mills said a number of the deaths happened when people were alone, and included a wide range of ages, activities and water environments.
Mills said people should swim between flags at patrolled breaches, watch out for rips, and always wear a lifejacket on boats and while fishing from rocks.