Lifeguards: Follow the rules

Mount Beach life guard William Dansereau. Photo / George Novak

Bay lifeguards have had a steady start to the season due to flat sea conditions but are urging people to swim between the flags after seven drownings in the past five days.

New Zealand's drowning toll had passed 100 compared to 90 for 2014. One of the latest fatalities, which had been referred to the Coroner, included 22-year-old Pawan Kumar Khadka who was found at Mount Maunganui Beach on Monday. He originated from Nepal and had been living in Tauranga for about 18 months.

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand lifesaving services and education manager Allan Mundy said there had never been a fatality "within our patrol areas" and "there is no need to drown in New Zealand waters" and "if you follow safety information and do the right thing then you will stay safe".

The fatalities were disappointing and devastating to the families and he could not stress enough the importance of swimming between the flags.

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand had 8500 volunteers and 600 contracted lifeguards based at 90 patrols around the country and had been a tried-and-trusted service for 100 years, Mr Mundy said.

Eastern Region Lifesaving manager Leigh Sefton said lifeguards in the Bay had dealt with a few minor rescues but nothing of note.

It had been a slow start as there was no swell other than a few rips that pop up here and there with different tides, he said.

If in doubt stay out of the water, swim between the flags, swim with a friend and know your own swimming ability.

A new lifeguard tower had been erected at Tay St, Mount Maunganui last week in response to increased demand from swimmers in time for the beginning of Surf Lifesaving New Zealand paid patrols in the area.

"I have been down most days and it has certainly corralled the people into there with a lot more people swimming in the flagged area, which is fantastic."

Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club regional guards patrol captain and volunteer lifeguard Shaun Smith said he hoped Surf Lifesaving New Zealand would get the funding to patrol Papamoa East.

"There is definitely a need for it."

It had dealt with a couple of wind-related rescues "a board went out to sea with a guy on it and a kite surfer so these are the kind of things that happen at the moment without the surf."

"People just need to watch conditions and if they are not confident, don't go in the water."

There had been several shark sightings over the last few weeks so "obviously swim between the flags because that is where we are watching".

Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club chairman Donal Boyle said people were doing the right thing and swimming in groups and between the flags.

Its lifeguards had been educating people on the change in tides and rips and, while there had not been a lot of rescues, they had assisted people with first aid.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand chairman Geoff Hamilton said he hoped that no one else drowned during the official holiday period which will end at 6am on January 5.

People needed to consider the risk if not swimming in a patrolled area and supervise children.

"If you're at a remote location or you're the only one swimming, it's going to be that much harder to get help, and time can be the difference between life and death. You have to keep them [children] within arm's reach at all times. It's as simple as that."

If caught in a rip:

* Don't panic

* Don't try to swim against the rip back to shore

* Let the rip carry you out until the current subsides

* Swim parallel to the beach for 30-40m before swimming back to shore

* If you get tired or become frightened, stay calm, raise your arm, call for help and wait

* To find your nearest patrolled beach, visit www.findabeach.co.nz