Four young men have been taken to hospital - one in a critical condition - after being swept out to sea.
Emergency services were called to Auckland's Bethells Beach at 5.40pm Sunday afternoon.
Police said Surf Life Saving New Zealand crews rescued three men from the water, who were transferred to Waitakere Hospital, each in a condition not believed to be life-threatening.
Another man was located by the Westpac Helicopter in the water and was taken to Auckland hospital in a critical condition.