'Hoffmania' hits Mt Maunganui

David Hasselhoff at Mt Maunganui Beach today. Photo / Alan Gibson

A 4000-strong crowd flocked to Mt Maunganui's main beach today to catch a glimpse of television lifeguard David Hasselhoff, who made a grand entrance which did not disappoint the fans.

The Baywatch star and international celebrity, who inspired the saying "don't hassle the Hoff", is in New Zealand to promote an ice cream brand.

Hasselhoff sported his trademark red shorts and arrived on the beach in true Baywatch-style on an inflatable surf raft, despite choppy seas.

Thousands of tourists and locals jostled to get close to "The Hoff" for an autograph or photograph with the man himself.

Hasselhoff waded through the surf to greet the crowd, which he said was his biggest turnout yet.

Mt Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club provided uniformed lifeguards as security and took advantage of the huge crowds by fundraising with a bucket collection.

"It was pretty crazy down at the beach," said the club's junior surf administrator Caroline Bird.

The ice cream promoters believed there were more people at the Mt Maunganui event than at Sydney's Bondi Beach, she said.

"If you were trying to get close to him it was pretty squished," she told NZPA.

"There was a lot of pushing and shoving with people trying to get photos.

"But how often do you get a celebrity here in Mt Maunganui?" she said.

Ms Bird got a close-up view herself as she was taking photos for the surf club.

"He was brilliant, really accommodating and very friendly. He was fantastic and allowed time for everyone to come up and have photos taken with him," she said.

But there wasn't enough space for Hasselhoff to do his trademark run down the beach, Ms Bird added.

"He was literally mobbed from the moment he got out of the raft, so he only got breathing space when he got up to the club rooms.

"It was a brilliant day and great for Mt Maunganui and Tauranga to host a celebrity of his status," Ms Bird said.

Hasselhoff returns to Auckland tonight for a VIP reception in Mission Bay before flying out tomorrow.

- NZPA