Five people have been rescued from the sea in two separate incidents on Wednesday.
A man and two children were rescued after they ran into trouble while swimming off a beach in Opotiki in Bay of Plenty, at about 7.45pm.
Two police officers pulled the trio ashore.
They were taken by helicopter to Whakatane Hospital for treatment.
About the same time, on Auckland's west coast, two people were swept out to sea by strong currents at Bethells Beach.
One person was rescued by another swimmer, while a surfer paddled out to bring the other person to shore.
Nobody was injured.
