Poripori Waterhole Tragedy: Second Water Death In Two Summers

Tuesday, 13 January 2026, 5:35 pm
Article: Ayla Yeoman - Local Democracy Reporter

By Ayla Yeoman, Local Democracy Reporting

The person who died at the Poripori waterhole on Saturday was from Tauranga, police have confirmed.

The incident is the second where a local has died at the popular Wairoa River swimming spot in as many summers.

Tauranga 21-year-old Jontae Christopher Alden died in December 2024, after jumping from a rock into one of the natural pools at the swimming hole.

The case remained before the coroner this week.

On Saturday, police and other emergency services were called to a location off Poripori Road about 2.55pm, after a person was pulled from the water.

Police said CPR was given, but the person died at the scene. Police have referred the death to the coroner.

Local Democracy Reporting understands the person was a male.

A witness, who spoke on the condition they were not named, said they planned to take their three young daughters for a swim at the Poripori waterhole, but when they arrived in the carpark, they saw an ambulance had just arrived.

The rest of the emergency services followed, and the swimmers were evacuated from the water hole.

"Everybody was quiet. It was just this common sadness, because everybody knew what happened."

Known as the Poripori waterhole or swimming hole, the area has a series of natural pools surrounded by bush and is a well-known spot to cool off in hot weather.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson said the council was not involved in the emergency response, as that was not its role.

Asked whether safety changes may be needed after two deaths in Poripori over two summers, he said the council would be guided by any recommendations from the coroner.

"Any natural water body, whether it be a river, stream, the ocean or a lake, presents hazards and risks to anyone entering the water."

Several signs in the area warn of drowning risks due to water flows increasing from releases of the Lake McLaren dam upstream.

A Contact Energy spokesperson said there was no release from the dam on Saturday, only on Sunday, as scheduled.

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Glen Scanlon said rivers remained one of New Zealand's deadliest environments for drowning.

"Poripori, like so many calm and beautiful swimming holes in New Zealand's rivers, poses risks of submerged rocks, a fast-flowing current, and hazards from slipping and falling.

"On a warm sunny day, a river swimming hole looks like a great place for a swim. Swimming in rivers is fun, but it can always be dangerous."

Scanlon said that, in almost every incident, drowning in New Zealand could be prevented.

This could not be prevented by signage alone.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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