Water Safety New Zealand says that despite a low drowning toll over the holiday period there were still far too many close-calls.
Three people drowned between 4pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on 3 January - the lowest number Christmas holiday drowning toll in five years.
The agency's chief executive, Matt Claridge, says if it wasn't for others putting themselves at risk to make rescues the toll would have been much higher.
"Lots of people rescued outside of (beach) patrol hours, and the Coastguard have been doing a bit of work collecting people off boats that have been unseaworthy," he says.
"They're always factors of concern: people choosing to hit the water at a time when they really feel like they need to cool off, or with gear and equipment that really isn't quite up to scratch".
Mr Claridge says the steady decline in the drowning toll is very encouraging.
