A man has drowned on the Kaituna River near Okere Falls, while another has been taken to Rotorua Hospital with serious injuries.

The body of the 22-year-old man was found at 3.40pm.

He was one of three who were swimming at an area on the river known as the Trout Pool when they got into difficulty.

Senior Sergeant John Wilson said witnesses saw the man go under the water about 2pm.

A bystander managed to save two other men. One was taken to Rotorua Hospital with serious injuries while the third man was not hurt.

Mr Wilson said the three men were described as being of Indian descent but it was not yet known if they were locals or visiting Rotorua.

The group got into some distress and as a result two were rescued by other people swimming in the area. Unfortunately one of the group went under."

He said the Trout Pool area was a reasonably wide part of the river at the bottom of the rapids where the rafters came out.

He said the popular swimming spot was slow flowing and deep.

Mr Wilson said the man's body was found by locals helping emergency services search the area.

Meanwhile, emergency services are attending another incident at Auckland's Hunua Falls.

A St John spokeswoman said ambulance were assisting an 18-year-old man at the falls.

The St John spokeswoman said it was a near drowning.

The man had moderate but non-life threatening injuries and was not taken to hospital.