Boaties are being urged to use their common sense after footage emerged showing a boat flipping off Manu Bay in Raglan on Sunday.
The footage shows a small boat jetting fast into a large wave and nearly flipping. Just after the boat righted itself another large wave hit, completely flipping it over.
The boat disappears into the water before the video cuts off.
Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) Chief Executive Matt Williams said lifeguards immediately responded to the capsize.
Wiliams said three men were aboard when it flipped and one was hospitalised with serious injuries.
He said the outcome would have been "much worse" if lifeguards weren't able to respond so quickly.
Williams said the video shows Surf Life Saving's calls for common sense aren't getting through.
He said while swimmers avoided the northern region's west coast beaches because of heavy rain, large surf, bluebottles, surging waves and extremely large currents, it didn't seem to deter the group on the boat.
He emphasised it was up to everyone to take steps to keep themselves safe.
"Surf lifeguards simply are not, nor have they ever been resourced to be a substitute for the public's common sense," he said.
"We need the public to work with us to ensure we have a safe and happy summer, free of last year's drowning tragedies on our beaches. The last thing we want is to be unable to respond to a serious emergency situation as we are off tending to someone else's lack of judgement."
Williams said education is incredibly important and people need to make sure they're being sensible and taking precautions.
"Logic dictates the incident on Sunday could have been easily avoided if the boat users had recognised the apparent poor conditions and reconsidered. If in doubt, don't go out – no catch or day on the water is worth you or your mates' lives, full stop."
Williams said the men on the boat were incredibly lucky it didn't end in a much more tragic outcome.
"These guys are incredibly lucky. For your own sake, and for the sake of your families and whānau in the lead-up to the summer break, please make safe decisions," he said.
"Recognise your limits and stay within them, learn how to recognise rip currents, be smart around rocks and large surf, and never, ever swim or surf alone. And if you're at a patrolled beach, always swim between the flags.
"Surf lifeguards are here to keep you safe, and to help you keep yourself safe. The more we work together, the better the summer will be."
Surf Life Saving's tips and tricks for staying safe over summer:
- Choose a surf lifeguard patrolled beach and swim between the flags
- Read and understand the safety signs – ask a surf lifeguard for advice as conditions can change regularly
- Don't overestimate your ability or your children's ability to cope in the conditions
- Always keep a close eye on very young children in or near the water – always keep them within arm's reach
- Get a friend to swim with you – never swim or surf alone
- Watch out for rip currents, they can carry you away from shore. If caught in a rip current remember the 3Rs: *Relax and float, *Raise your hand and *Ride the rip
- Be smart around rocks: When fishing never turn your back towards the sea and always wear a lifejacket
- If in doubt, stay out!
- If you see someone in trouble, call 111 and ask for the Police
- Be sun smart – slip, slop, slap and wrap to protect your skin and eyes from the sun's damaging rays.
