On the back of an extended summer, Tauranga surf life savers have been kept busy with two beaches making it into the top 10 for most rescues performed in the country.

Finalised patrol statistics for the 2012/13 surf life saving season released yesterday show rescue numbers have increased nationwide by 55 per cent on last season.

Mount Maunganui surf life savers performed 49 rescues this season.

Mount Maunganui was the third busiest last season performing 49 rescues from July 2012 to June 2013, while Omanu was sixth with 42.

The largest number of rescues took place at Muriwai on Auckland's West Coast were there were 67, followed by Taylors Mistake in Christchurch with 53 and the Mount.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand says the statistics are reflective of what was a very busy year of surf life saving and one of the country's busiest summers on record.

Naturally in response to the warm weather, visitor numbers increased also leading to an increase in the risk of people getting into trouble.

Nationwide, lifeguards spent 211,971 hours patrolling 80 beaches, rescuing 1645 people – 581 rescues above last year's 1064 total.

There was also a 32 per cent increase in first aid treatments, up from 1498 to 1979.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand eastern regional manager Chris Emmett says despite the two bay beaches entering the top 10, the season must be taken in context due to how busy it was.

'We did have a lot of sunshine this season and did have a lot of swell and a lot of fine periods of water temperature,” says Chris.

'The beach usage was high overall and that would probably count and conditions seemed to be challenging for longer periods.”

With the high number of beachgoers throughout the patrol season, eastern region life guards were kept on their toes with 57,769 patrol hours and 38,956 preventative actions including shifting the flags, preventing swimmers from entering rips or checking on swimmers who may be in difficulty.

The number of patrol hours is up 2000 on last season while preventative actions jumped up 17,403 from 21,553.

Chris says water safety messages are slowly sinking in, but it is a constant battle for life guards.

'The message is getting across. It's like drink driving you need to keep on top of it to actually make a difference.

'We need to keep putting it at the forefront of our message at all times.

Top 10 rescues stats

• Muriwai - 67
• Taylors Mistake - 53
• Mt Maunganui - 49
• Opunake - 45
• Raglan - 44
• Omanu - 42
• Kariaotahi - 41
• Hot Water Beach - 33
• Waimarama - 24
• St Kilda - 24
• Sumner - 24
• Paekakariki/Foxton - 23