Swelling numbers of holidaymakers have contributed to a sharp increase in the number of roadside callouts.
AA Roadservice's national manager John Healy said callouts from popular coastal spots, including Papamoa and Whitianga, soared during the summer holiday period as people head to the beach for a holiday or take a day trip to cool off.
"Nearly 60 per cent of callouts to beach locations over the last two weeks have been for flat batteries, difficulties with starting, or keys locked in cars," he said.
"Our service officers and contractors have accessed a number of locked vehicles to retrieve car keys that have inadvertently been left in the boot, after people have dropped the keys inside while they're unloading bags, or getting beach gear and picnic baskets out.
"Because they're relaxed and in holiday mode, people quite often make mistakes they wouldn't normally make."
Mr Healy said if there was an animal or child locked in a vehicle, people did not need to be an AA Member to phone for help.
Top 20 coastal locations for AA callouts (Dec 21 - Jan 6)
· Mission Bay (56)
· Paraparaumu Beach (43)
· Bucklands Beach (42)
· Whakatane (42)
· Thames (38)
· Red Beach (38)
· Whitianga (35)
· Tairua (34)
· Raglan (34)
· Papamoa Beach (30)
· Mangawhai Heads (24)
· Snells Beach (22)
· Pauanui (22)
· Hahei (21)
· Paihia (21)
· Piha (20)
· Waikanae Beach (20)
· Coromandel (19)
· Lake Tekapo (18)
· Russell (17)