A statement from the family said he was "not deliberately holding his breath underwater".
A witness told Newshub he saw two men unconscious at the bottom of the pool.
Most of the rescues happened north of Waikato.
Two people were clinging to their upturned vessel before they were rescued.
Of the 90 people who drowned in Aotearoa last year, 19 were Māori.
Maritime NZ is pleading with Kiwis to remember their life jackets if going on the water this Waitangi weekend.
The girl, 10, was on holiday with her family when she was swept down Marian Creek on Thursday morning.
The council is asking residents to urgently conserve water.
Surf Lifesaving NZ has in a bid for further government funding.
