Two people have died in drownings at North Island beaches on Tuesday evening.
St John Ambulance says paramedics were unable to revive a 30-year-old man at Muriwai Beach, west of Auckland, at about 5pm.
An hour later, a 55-year-old man died at Te Mata Beach, north of Thames.
Low drowning toll in 2010
Water Safety New Zealand says a record low drowning toll last year is little cause for celebration.
It says 86 people drowned in 2010, the lowest toll since records began in 1980.
The lowest annual toll was previously 93, in 2006.
Water Safety New Zealand says drowning is still the third highest cause of accidental death in this country, behind road accidents and falls.
Eleven drownings have been recorded during the holiday period.
