Surf Lifesaving New Zealand is urging people to take extreme care at beaches, after pre-season rescues at two beaches during the weekend.
On Saturday a 16-year old off-duty lifeguard James Lee rescued four people from rips at Hot Water Beach in Coromandel.
On Sunday in Hawke's Bay, off-duty members of the surf lifesaving club at Waimarama Beach assisted in bringing to shore a family caught in a rip.
Surf Lifesaving's Brent Harvey says with patrols not starting until Labour Weekend, swimmers need to be extra cautious.
"It's being aware of what to look for in a rip: obviously a calm patch in amongst the surf, and not going in that area.
"Also never going out alone so you've got people to watch over you while you are in the water."
Brent Harvey says last summer about 1600 people, a record number, were rescued from New Zealand waters.
James Lee says surf lifesaving clubs should receive funding to open before the official start of patrolling during Labour Weekend.
He's a member of the local surf lifesaving club, and says Hot Water Beach is one of the busiest in the country, with lifeguards there doing more rescues in the lead-up to the long weekend than some clubs do in an entire summer.