Lifeguards at Muriwai have been out training today, gearing up for the first weekend of the patrol season.

Six northern region lifeguards demonstrated patient pick-ups in the inflatable rescue boat, and a mock flag patrol.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region's Dan Butt says they'll continue that training over Labour Weekend, which is their official patrol kick-off date.

He says they run right through until Easter, and this sort of training gives the guards the skills they need to rescue people over the summer months.

New Zealand's west coast is in for battering of waves and wind this summer - and for lifeguards, that means conditions that are more dangerous, weather that's hotter than usual, and a lot more people heading to the beach.

Dan Butt says that, coupled with Auckland's population growth, will mean more rescues.

He says their main actions on the beach are preventing people from having to be rescued, but inevitably, they're doing more and more rescue work.