Around 20 family and friends had gathered at Wellington Street beach before 9am on Friday. The incident follows a tragic start to New Year for those swimming in the waters throughout Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. On January 4, four-year-old Mystique Genuine Pairama, of Upper Hutt, died at Lake Rotokawau in Rotorua. The following day, Zion Brown, 18, of New Plymouth, died after a water incident on Lake Arapuni. On Wednesday, January 6, two men drowned at opposite ends of the Waikato. A father of three, Revell Douglas, 46, died after he tried to help some children who got into trouble in the waters at Karioitahi Beach, north Waikato.
About 4.35pm on Monday, police, ambulance, and a rescue helicopter were called to Lake Rotokawau, a small lake east of Rotorua, after the girl drowned. Local kaumātua Dr Ken Kennedy, who is a Ngāti Rangiteaorere Koromatua Council co-chair, was among those who performed karakia at the site on Tuesday and placed a rāhui on the lake. This was one of four drownings this week in the Waikato, prompting a warning from Water Safety. On Wednesday drownings were at Two Mile Bay in Taupō, and earlier at about 11am at Karioitahi Beach, and on Tuesday an 18-year-old died at Lake Arapuni.