Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Water Safety New Zealand says safety plans for the King of the Bays ocean swim in Auckland are top quality.

A man in his late 50s died on Saturday afternoon after taking part in the 2.8km swim from Bayswater on the North Shore to the Viaduct in downtown Auckland.

It is the third year in a row that a death has occurred at the event. About 1000 swimmers took part on Saturday.

Water Safety New Zealand spokesperson Matt Claridge says safety plans for the swim, as well as the overall series of events, are typically second to none.

Mr Claridge says open water swimming is very popular, but many swimmers do not understand the added stress of competition.

Event director Scott Rice says the event has attracted a broad range of competitors, including Olympians Danyon Loader and Moss Burmester, making the field one of the strongest in the event's history.

Mr Rice says their thoughts are with the dead man's family but was not making any further comment on Saturday until a full debrief has taken place.