Eastern region surf lifeguards are preparing for a busy New Year’s Day, with easing swell and improving winds expected to draw large crowds to some of the region’s most popular beaches.

After a week of rough surf, strong winds and a spike in rescues, Surf Lifesaving NZ Eastern region manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell said New Year’s Day was shaping up to be the most inviting day for swimmers since Christmas — but warned that people must remain vigilant.

Whangamatā the pick of the coast

Gibbons-Campbell said Whangamatā Beach would offer the best conditions on January 1, with smaller, chest‑high (around 1m) waves and cleaner surf as winds shift to the northwest.

“It’s looking like a great day to visit Whangamatā,” he said. “But it’s still essential that people swim between the flags and stay aware of changing conditions.”

Mount Maunganui still bumpy but safer

At Mount Maunganui, New Year’s Day conditions won’t be perfect, with bumpy winds lingering and 1m waves, but Gibbons-Campbell said it would still be suitable for “a holiday swim between the flags”.

The calmer New Year’s conditions follow several days of challenging surf.

On December 30, Mount Main Beach was pounded by 2m to 2.5m swells and strong onshore winds, while Whangamatā also experienced messy surf as northerlies strengthened.

Surf Lifesaving NZ eastern region lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell. Photo / NZME

Rescues surge heading into the holiday peak

The improved New Year’s Day outlook comes after lifeguards rescued 10 people since Christmas Day, all at beaches along the eastern coastline.

Almost all incidents involved swimmers outside the flagged patrol zones.

Those rescues — at Wainui Beach, Hot Water Beach, Whakatāne, Tairua, and Waihī Beach’s Island View — bring the total number of rescues since October 25 to 79, more than four times last year’s 17 for the same period.

The lifeguards were also involved in eight searches, mainly for young children who became separated from their families, and most took about 20 minutes with positive outcomes, Gibbons-Campbell said.

Two of the searches last week involved kayakers, and the lifeguards spent about an hour searching after being alerted to the possibility of someone in difficulties, he said.

“One ended up being a bit of a wild goose chase as no one had been reported missing, but luckily, the person was later found to be safe.

“Two days later, in Pāpāmoa, a kayaker had been blown off course due to strong winds, and police inquiries confirmed the person was safely out of the water.”

Gibbons-Campbell said it was essential that kayakers had two forms of communication, a phone and an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) to activate if they get into difficulties.

He said there were also seven major first aid incidents, including people suffering allergic reactions from bee stings, and one person was allergic to seafood eaten at a nearby beach house.

“And we’ve also had a few dislocated shoulders and fractures from falls.”

Since Christmas Day, patrols have carried out 965 preventative actions involving more than 31,000 people.

Mount Maunganui Beach surf conditions on December 30, included big waves, strong onshore winds all day, and rough conditions. Photo / Supplied

A New Year plea: Stay between the flags

With New Year’s Day expected to pull thousands to the water, Gibbons-Campbell said preparation and safe decision-making were vital.

He urged beachgoers to take flotation aids, stay close to patrolled areas, and immediately alert lifeguards if someone becomes lost or appears in trouble.

“We also want people to keep a close eye on where they last saw the person, and the direction they were heading, so the lifeguards know where to start their search.

“We need people to swim where and when the lifeguards are on duty, from 10am to 6pm,” he said.

“And never swim two hours either side of a low incoming tide in the late afternoon or evening.”

Gibbons-Campbell pleaded with beachgoers to ensure they were prepared when they went to the beach by checking the surf and weather conditions first, and “never swim alone”.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.