Surf Life Saving New Zealand says its lifeguards tried to resuscitate two people pulled from the water in Northland yesterday evening

Police say they were called to the area between Mahuta Gap and Glinks Gully just before 7pm yesterday where two people were struggling in the water.

Surf Life Saving says lifeguards from Baylys Beach responded to the incident after being alerted of two people caught in a rip.

They say the location was 17 kilometres south of its Baylys Beach patrolled area.

The first lifeguards at the scene found both men in the water and unresponsive.

They returned to the beach to commence CPR but were unable to save the pair.

A rahui is in place in the area, until 7pm tomorrow.