Lifeguards have busy weekend

Lifeguards had their busiest time of the summer at the weekend as thousands of beachgoers sought relief from the heat.

Surf Lifesaving Northern Region said one-third of its rescues since Labour Weekend took place on Saturday and Sunday.

Lifeguards patrolling 17 beaches from Raglan to the Far North made 177 rescues - including 51 people at Piha on Saturday and another 36 people on Sunday.

Lifesaving services manager Dean Storey said after a slow start to summer, lifeguards made 11,000 interventions to warn swimmers of potential danger.

Even off-duty lifeguards did not escape. Guards at a training exercise at Muriwai on Sunday were called on to help rescue a group of 14 people who had been swept on to rocks.