Police dug with bare hands after river bank collapsed killing two boys age 10 and 11
Thursday, 16 April 2026
Two children have died after a Bay of Plenty river bank collapsed, trapping them underneath as police attempted to dig them out with their bare hands.
Police said emergency services were called to the scene at Tarawera River near Boyce Park, Kawerau.
A rescue operation was launched around 11.30am, with police and Fire and Emergency working to locate the pair while Hato Hone St John were in attendance.
“Sadly, two people were located deceased a short time later,” said Inspector Phil Gillbanks, Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander.
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The group of children had been fishing and playing on the northern side of the river when the bank collapsed.
“Two police officers on arrival swam across the river and attempted to locate and dig for the boys with their bare hands,” said Gillbanks.
The two local Kawerau boys, aged 10 and 11 were located deceased.
The deaths have been referred to the Coroner.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand lifeguards in an IRB assisted emergency services to bring the boys and rescue personnel across the river where they were met with “grieving whānau,” said Gillbanks.
“I am extremely proud of the two police staff and the local volunteer fire brigade staff who did everything they could to locate the victims in perilous circumstances,” he said.
The bodies have been returned to their families.
Local kaumatua have performed karakia and placed a rāhui on the Tarawera River following the two deaths.
“Tūwharetoa has placed a cultural rāhui on the Tarawera River following the tragic incident earlier today,” a statement by Tuwharetoa mai Kawerau ki te Tai said.
“The rāhui will remain in place until the 23 April 2026, and prohibits activities such as fishing, swimming, and all other recreational use of the river during this time.”
The local Kawerau JAB rugby club said they had lost two of their JAB tamaiti.
The tribute said the two boys and their whānau were were “active and valued members of our JAB community”.
“Our hearts are breaking for these boys, their whanau, and for everyone who had the privilege of knowing them,” the tribute said.
“Moe mai ra korua e nga tama. Kia okioki i te rangimarie.“
Local Kurūtia Tanoa told Stuff he rushed to Tarawera River when he heard the rescue helicopter.
“Our kids were in distress telling me their mate is stuck under the bank,” he said.
Tanoa said three kids were involved in the bank slide, but one was able to free himself and the other two were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Parents of the deceased turned up and there was a lot of tears going around. We as a community are always saddened when our tamariki are involved in a accident,” he said
Hato Hone St John said they were notified of “a potential water incident” at Manukorihi Dr.
They assessed three people in a minor condition at the scene.
One ambulance, a first response unit, two operations manager a rapid response unit and a helicopter attended the incident.
Mike Anderson told Stuff he had seen four ambulances, four fire trucks and “at least eight police cars,” at the height of the rescue operation.
Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui said she was of the incident and wanted residents to be aware of an increased presence of emergency services.
She asked the community “to allow our services to do the work that they are currently doing to better understand what has happened and occurred in our community today.”
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were called to the scene at 11.35am to assist police and Hato Hone St John.
Two trucks from Kawerau and two trucks from Edgecumbe were in attendance. They referred to police for any further information.
The flow and current level of the Tawarewa River was higher than average due to recent rain, according to a gauge at Awakaponga.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said one of the boys was 12. He was 11. Police have since corrected their information and apologised for any confusion caused. (Amended at 3pm on April 17, 2026)