UPDATED 4.30pm: Two women have been pulled from the water near Lion Rock at Auckland west coast surfing beach Piha.

Police say life-savers performed CPR on one woman, before the pair were taken by ambulance to hospital.

And just before midday a surfer was reported to be in difficulty at Raglan's Ngarunui Beach, west of Hamilton.

Other swimmers went to help, and surf club and Coastguard boats also responded.

A lifeguard at Ngarunui Beach said the search for the unconfirmed missing surfer was called off about three o'clock.

Nobody has been recovered from the beach.

Meanwhile three people have been rescued after their 6.5 metre Rayglass boat capsized while attempting to cross the Manukau Bar.

The police Eagle helicopter, a Coastguard plane and two Coastguard vessels began searching the area after the boat was reported missing around 12.30 this afternoon.

Police say the three people on board clung to the boat for some time before swimming towards the shore.

All were wearing life-jackets.

Conditions in the area at the time were rough with a four metre-plus swell.