With a rising drowning toll, beach safety is vitally important, as students from Weber School discovered last week at Akitio Beach.
"To see them all out there learning from lifesavers, was sensational," Masterton's Chris Horrocks said.
Mr Horrocks has a home at the beach and at one time was a lifeguard at Orewa.
"It was absolutely unreal to see all the kids and the adults taking in the swim-safe messages. Coming into summer, this is great," he said.
The Weber School children, aged from 5 to 13 years, participated in the beach education programme, with support from teachers, parents and lifeguards from Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, Weber principal Janine Satchwell said.
"We started our day at school where the children were introduced to beach safety aspects, such as swimming between the flags, staying in view of lifeguards, being sun smart and water safety tips such as putting your hand up if in trouble, identifying rips and always swimming with an adult present," she said.