Death on the water: Body recovered from sea off Kaikōura coast 31 Dec, 2020 11:26 PM Quick Read A helicopter retrieving the body spotted in the water off the Kaikōura coast today. Photo / Supplied A helicopter retrieving the body spotted in the water off the Kaikōura coast today. Photo / Supplied A person has died in the water off the coast of Kaikōura. Emergency services were alerted to a body in the water earlier this morning. A Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched but was stood down after a local pilot retrieved the body.