Three people died in separate water-related incidents across the North Island on Tuesday, including a child who drowned in Northland's Kai Iwi Lakes.
Another person died after getting into difficulty while in the water at Wenderholm Regional Park, north of Auckland, while police also confirmed a 28-year-old man died while swimming in the Waingaro River, west of Ngaruawahia, in Waikato.
It takes the number of water-related deaths or suspected drownings since the start of December to 25.
Within the last week there have also been four drownings in the same section of the Manawatu River, prompting a push for better water safety education there.
A rahui - which restricts the use of an area - was put in place after an 11 and 27-year-old went missing last Wednesday, but two men also drowned while swimming there on Sunday.
The Palmerston North City Council has previously promoted the Ahimate Reserve as a popular spot to swim at.
Jake McKee reports.
