The body of a man has been found after he was swept out to sea near the Waikato River mouth - the same place where three men drowned on Labour Day.
The man is believed to be one of three who were swept away while net fishing in the surf on Kariotahi beach, about 7.30pm on Friday, Kariaotahi Surf Life Saving Club president Jim Coe told NZ Newswire.
The trio had been fishing approximately 7km south of the surf club, he said.
A local fisherman found the body early on Saturday and brought it to the surf club.
The other two men, who were both wearing life jackets, were rescued shortly after being swept out to sea.
In the same area on October 24, two men drowned and one is missing, presumed drowned, after they were swept out to sea while laying a fishing net.
Mr Coe said it had been a week of "utter tragedy" on the beach.
"This stretch of beach - that extends from the mouth of the Waikato River two kilometres north - is extremely dangerous.
"It is strongly recommended that people do not fish in this area."
Conditions at the beach at low tide could be treacherous, "like a washing machine with currents going in all directions and strong undertows", Mr Coe said.
"This is the reason why these people got into difficulty quickly yesterday."
The three men swept out on Labour Day were Hopapi Pepa, 41, and brothers Aisea Inoke, 40, and Maka Inoke, 38. All three, from Auckland, were married with children.
Police found Mr Pepa's body on Monday afternoon.
Another body found on Friday was believed to be one of the men and searchers were still looking for the third, Surf Life Saving New Zealand spokeswoman Liz Tindall said on Saturday.
NZN