A man has died after a small dinghy capsized in the Auckland suburb of Mt Wellington.

Three men were about to set off from the Waipuna Road boat ramp at about 10 this morning, when their boat flipped, throwing them overboard.

They were around 10 metres from shore when it happened.

One man made it back to shore on his own while another was helped by members of the public.

Bystanders retrieved the third man from the water, but despite attempts to resuscitate him he died at the scene.

At this point, Police believe they were not wearing life jackets.