Two people were clinging to their upturned vessel before they were rescued.
Of the 90 people who drowned in Aotearoa last year, 19 were Māori.
Maritime NZ is pleading with Kiwis to remember their life jackets if going on the water this Waitangi weekend.
The girl, 10, was on holiday with her family when she was swept down Marian Creek on Thursday morning.
The council is asking residents to urgently conserve water.
Surf Lifesaving NZ has in a bid for further government funding.
The off-duty guard first noticed the rescue unfolding on a live surf cam.
But the waterpark's managing director is rejecting her claims.
With plenty of people still on holiday and the mercury nearing 30C, it can be chaos on the water.