Omanu's Max Beattie is set to re-kindle some title-winning bonds this weekend as the New Zealand Black Fins step up preparations for Rescue 14.

From today until Sunday the 12-strong squad of surf life savers will be based at the Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club and other locations around Auckland.

Max Beattie competing in the Omanu Classic. Photo: Jamie Troughton - Dscribe Media.

This is the side's first team camp ahead of Rescue 2014 and is the first time the athletes have been together since the team was announced last month.

Omanu's Max Beattie is the sole Bay of Plenty representative in the squad and returns after helping the side secure the Lifesaving World Championships in 2012.

NZ Black Fins team manager Mark Weatherall says the team will go through a mixture of training and team building activities along with planning for Rescue 2014.

'It has been a busy time since the team was announced, especially with four of the athletes competing over at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, so we're really looking forward to having the full team all together.

'With less than 40 days to go until Rescue 2014 begins, the intensity is really building up.”

Rescue 2014, or the Lifesaving World Championships, is being held in the south of France from September 13-26 with the national team's competition beginning on September 16.

New Zealand are the current world champions, having won the world title in Adelaide at Rescue 2012, and the team is eager to win the title once again.

The athletes will get together again on August 22 for their second and final camp.

They will also be attending the New Zealand Pool Championships from August 29-31 at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Auckland before departing for France on September 8.

NZ is also sending a Youth Team to Rescue 2014 comprising of 12 athletes; six male and six female.