Mount Maunganui beach top rescue spot

Mount Maunganui Beach. Photo/file

Mount Maunganui and Whangamata beaches have hosted some of the most surf rescues than anywhere else in New Zealand.

This morning Surf Life Saving New Zealand released statistics for the number of rescues its members performed at beaches throughout the country, with the largest amount of rescues (101) happening at Hot Water Beach.

Whangamata and Mount Maunganui beaches followed with the second and third most number of rescues over summer, with 56 and 54 rescues respectively.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Paul Dalton said overall the number of rescues carried out had dropped by 37 per cent compared to the previous season.

Most years, lifeguards will conduct around 1200 rescues on average.

Mr Dalton said this year's statistics were down slightly on the average and down quite significantly on last year's seemingly endless summer that happened to be one of the busiest in years.

Mr Dalton said inconsistent weather around the country was the reason why.

The Surf Life Saving season typically begins at Labour Weekend and runs through to Easter.