Surf lifeguards in eastern parts of the North Island have been kept busy with a five fold increase in rescues
Surf lifeguards in eastern parts of the North Island have been kept busy with a five fold increase in rescues
2 January 2026
More than a dozen swimmers have been pulled to safety over the past two days in the region including Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tairawhiti.
It brings the total number of rescues since October 25 to 93, five times higher than the previous reporting period.
About half of those rescued over the past two days were swimming outside lifeguard hours or not between the flags.
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