A rāhui on Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui, was not put in place after a person was  pulled from the water  unresponsive on Thursday.

“They were only in the water a short time, so the kaumātua did not think it was appropriate,” Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust chief executive Paora Stanley said.

Generally, a rāhui was put in place when a person died in a body of water and was left there for a significant time, Stanley said.

“It allows the ocean to go through a cleansing cycle, so you’re not eating something that has eaten a human body,” he said.

Emergency services were altered at 8.20am on December 9.

Mauou Adventures, which usually operates in Pilot Bay, had decided to relocate temporarily to McLaren Falls in anticipation of a rāhui being put in place.

Owner-operator Porina Whetu McLeod said iwi told her this was not the case anymore.

“It is something we usually do out of respect, but we will return this morning,” McLeod said.

Hato Hone St John was notified of an incident near The Mall, Mount Maunganui, but they said they could not comment further.

Police were notified that an unresponsive person was pulled from the Pilot Bay Beach at 8.20am, a spokesperson confirmed.

Police have confirmed that the coroner is now investigating.

The matter had been referred to the coroner and the police could not share any further information, the spokesperson said.