Police dive squad called after car enters Tauranga water
Friday 16 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 4 reports · updated In this story Police National Dive Squad
Emergency services responded to a vehicle that entered the water off Chapel Street in Tauranga around 12.30am on Friday. One person was taken to hospital in moderate condition, and police divers are searching for a second person who may have been in the car.
Key facts
4 facts
- A car entered the water off Chapel Street, Tauranga, around 12.30am on Friday.
- One male driver was hospitalised in moderate condition.
- The body of a female passenger was recovered by family-organised divers after 8am.
- Hato Hone St John dispatched two ambulances and an operations manager to the scene.
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
The body of a female passenger was recovered shortly after 8am on Friday following a car crash into the water in Tauranga. The passenger's family organised their own divers to recover her.
The incident occurred near the Bay Central shopping centre off Chapel Street around 12.30am. The driver managed to exit the vehicle and was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a moderate condition.
Police and the Police National Dive Squad are working at the scene to conduct forensic examinations and recover the vehicle. Bay of Plenty Senior Sergeant Roger Schreuder said, "Police’s thoughts are with the family of the female passenger".
Chapel Street has faced closures, with some reports indicating it was reopening while others stated it would remain closed for parts of the day until approximately 5pm. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes through Brookfield.
How it developed
- Fri 16 Oct, 7:21amThe fourth report confirmed the recovery of a female passenger's body and identified the driver as having escaped the water.
Where reports differ
- Initial reports stated police were trying to determine if a second person was in the car, whereas later reports confirmed the passenger had died.
- Reports varied on the status of Chapel Street, with some saying it was reopening while others noted it would be closed until 5pm.
Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald and 1News.
