More than 1500 people owe their lives to the country's surf lifeguards after another bumper season on New Zealand's beaches.

As the country celebrates National Volunteer Week, Surf Life Saving New Zealand is taking the opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by lifeguards over the summer.

During the 2015/16 patrol season the country's 4513 lifeguards saved 1513 people from life-threatening situations at 80 beaches across the country. Photo: File

Each summer, the country's lifeguards are out patrolling beaches, training and upskilling lifeguards or helping to keep their clubs running – come rain, hail or shine.

Surf Life Saving NZ CEO Paul Dalton says during the 2015/16 season, 4513 lifeguards spent more than 220,000 hours on patrol, including 141,690 volunteer hours, at 80 beaches across the country.

Together they rescued 1513 people from life-threatening situations, up 14 per cent from the 1328 people saved during the 2014/15 season.

'Volunteering is a huge commitment and for many of our members, it's a lifetime commitment. They're in it for life. Year after year, they make time to not only fit patrolling into their busy schedules, but hours of training and upskilling and keeping their clubs functioning, he says.

'Volunteers are the lifeblood of our charity organisation and it's important to celebrate them and the role they play in benefitting their communities and enabling Kiwis to enjoy their summers safely every year.”

On top of the 1,513 rescues, lifeguards conduced 1,946 first aid treatments, 299 searches and 107,805 preventative actions which stopped people from getting to the point of needing rescue.

Each year, Surf Life Saving New Zealand awards one member the title of Lifeguard of the Year at the annual Awards of Excellence. This year's ceremony will be held in Auckland on September 24.

To find out more about Surf Life Saving New Zealand or becoming a volunteer lifeguard, please visit www.surflifesaving.org.nz