Saturday was the first day of the lifesaving season, and there's a new concern for lifeguards at some of our most dangerous beaches.
The overflow of sewage at Auckland's inner harbour beaches is expected to send more swimmers to the west coast.
More than 20 beaches are still off limits because of contamination from the blocked sewer in Parnell.
Saturday was a blustery spring day sunny enough to lure out beachgoers. And as summer approaches, surf lifeguards are prepping for a busy season.
"We're really encouraging people to find the safest places to swim, which is at a patrolled beach," said Zach Franich, acting general manager of Surf Life Saving Northern Region.
Last year saw 93 drownings and as New Zealand heads into a long hot summer the message is clear: do everything you can to keep you and your family safe.
"This has been the first El Niño summer in about seven-eight years, so we're anticipating large crowds, so we're asking the public to do their bit by finding the safest places to swim through safeswim.org.nz," Franich said.
That website's also where you'll see the spots in Auckland's inner harbour that remain off limits due to sewage contamination, which is expected to send more people out west for a dip.
"Make sure you're swimming within the red and yellow flags, that is the safest space on the beach," Franich said.
Several surf lifesaving clubs were damaged by the storms earlier this year.
"We do have some temporary setups in some of our locations such as portacoms, and this is great for the summer and will do the job. But we really need to find a viable long-term solution as quick as possible," Franich said.
Climate change is a factor when deciding how and where to build new surf life saving club rooms - after all, storms like the one that wiped out half of this club rooms at Bethells are predicted to become more frequent and more intense.
And if you want to help the hardworking lifeguards, don't overestimate your abilities and if in doubt, stay out.
