This summer, Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) focused on prevention to keep beachgoers safe.

During the patrol season (Labour Weekend to 28 April), they conducted 577 rescues, a significant drop from the previous years—873 rescues in 2023/24 and 1,472 in 2022/23.

This decrease is attributed to the substantial rise in preventative actions taken by surf lifeguards.

They completed 47,487 preventive actions, impacting nearly 1 million people—almost double the number from last season.

Preventative actions occur when lifeguards spot potential dangers early and intervene before they escalate into emergencies.

This includes warning swimmers about rip currents or unsafe conditions, checking on swimmers who appear to be struggling, or moving people out of flagged areas.

Andy Kent, General Manager of Lifesaving at SLSNZ, attributes this reduction in rescues to the ongoing work and education provided by surf lifeguards.

“The last thing anyone wants is beachgoers, and surf lifeguards, getting into a life-threatening situation," says Andy.

“It’s incredibly positive to see those rescue numbers start to trend down.”

January 29 was the busiest day of the summer season, with 90 incidents and nearly 200,000 people on the beaches.

February saw the highest number of rescues due to warmer weather.

Throughout the summer, surf lifeguards worked over 240,000 hours, an increase from previous years.

Andy highlights the dedication of the 4,000-plus volunteer lifeguards.

“We can enjoy downtime on the beach because others are giving up their time to keep us safer,” he says.

Even though the patrol season has ended, lifeguards will continue to train and upskill over the winter months.

Volunteer Search and Rescue squads remain on standby, ready to respond to any emergencies.

Andy reminds beachgoers to take extra care during the off-season.

“If you’re unsure about your ability to handle the conditions, stay on the beach and get home safely. And if you see someone in trouble, call 111 and ask for Police.”

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