The rāhui in place at Ōpoutere Beach, the Wharekawa Harbour, and Wharekawa River in the Coromandel area following a drowning in January has been lifted.

Emergency services were alerted around 11.30am on Wednesday, January 18, after several swimmers needed to be pulled from the water at Opoutere Beach.

Six people were rescued from the sea. Two people, a father and son, died.

A rāhui was placed on the beach following the incident.

In a statement from Department of Conservation says 'appropriate tikanga to lift the rāhui was undertaken by kaumatua at Ōpoutere Beach on Monday, February 6”.

'A rāhui (physical and spiritual protection mechanism) sets a temporary prohibition around the rāhui area and limits access or activities for that period to acknowledge the death and express sympathy to the whānau of the deceased,” says a DOC spokesperson.

'It provides time for tapu (sacredness) to dissipate following the fatalities, allowing time for healing and recovery of the natural elements at place as well as the people - in particular, the grieving whānau.

'Members of the public are now free to resume recreational activities, fishing, and shellfish collection at these locations.”