A person remains missing after a jet ski incident near Port Waikato that left a five-year-old child and a male in distress in the water on Christmas Day.
Emergency responders were called to the Waikato River Mouth about 6.25pm yesterday, with three people reported in difficulty around the coastal settlement south of Auckland.
"Police units, including an Eagle helicopter, assisted Surf Life Saving New Zealand in rescuing two people," a spokesperson said.
"Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol volunteers are continuing to search for the missing person today."
Surf Life Saving today confirmed surf lifeguards from Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service and Surf Lifesaving Kariaotahi were called to the Waikato Bar at 6.30pm.
"Surf lifeguards retrieved a five-year-old child retrieved from the water, with reports of one male still outstanding," a spokesperson said.
The search for the missing person finished at 8pm.
A spokesperson for Northern Rescue, operator of the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters, said crews were called around 6.31pm to help search for two people missing in the water. While one person was found upon arrival, the other was not found despite an "extensive grid search".
A St John spokesperson said a rapid response unit, two ambulances and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene after being notified by police.
The ambulance service was notified of two people in the water, the spokesperson said.
"All units got to the scene, but they were not needed for transportation," according to St John. "Crews were then stood down, with police taking over as the lead agency."
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