Three people have died at New Zealand beaches in one afternoon.

A woman at Waikanae Beach, Kāpiti, a man at Karioitahi Beach, southwest of Auckland, and another man at Waiwera Beach died on Boxing Day.

Police say a man died in a water-related incident at Waiwera Beach, north Auckland, and another person was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

The incident was reported to police at 4.09pm. Enquiries into the circumstances of the death are ongoing.

Police say the Waikanae incident was reported to emergency services around 1.30pm.

They are making enquiries on behalf of the coroner.

Police also confirm the death of a man at Karioitahi Beach, with the incident reported to emergency services shortly after 2pm.

Police say enquiries into the circumstances of this incident are ongoing.

There have been several water-related deaths this month.

A man died yesterday in a water-related incident at Great Barrier Island, and another man died on Christmas Eve in another water-related incident at Cape Palliser.

A child found unresponsive in the Waltham Swimming Pool in Christchurch on Wednesday was unable to be revived, and police located a body believed to be missing kayaker Jack Skellet in Wellington Harbour on Tuesday night.

A 28-year-old man died in a water incident in Northland earlier this month, and a child died while swimming off Napier's Marine Parade on December 10.

-RNZ.