A former lifeguard, who retired after five decades patrolling his local beach, has encouraged the volunteer crew at Karioitahi Beach to "rise above" a recent incident that saw staff verbally abused by a group of people that ended up needing rescuing.

The crowds had been swelling at Karioitahi beach since Christmas Day, but so had the abuse, said patrol captain Taylor Harvey.

In two separate instances on Saturday alone, his team warned swimmers they were in a dangerous spot - but were told to “f*** off”, he said.

“[We were told] they know better, and that they’d been swimming there already, and that we don’t know what we’re talking about, pretty much."

But the spot was clearly risky - two separate groups later got into trouble there, and two people were taken to hospital, Harvey said.

Talking to Summer Breakfast on Newstalk ZB this morning, former lifeguard Murray Robertson said he sympathised with the volunteer crew that was subjected to the verbal abuse and called the offenders "morons".

"They're people who open their mouths too wide and misdirect comments at lifeguards who are there to help them - they're just morons," he said.

"I'd say to them the moment they're getting water in their lungs and it's burning and you think the end of the world is coming and the boys and girls in the orange and red shirts turn up and pull you out of the water ... that's a moment that maybe changes your mind about what they're there for."

Robertson said that after reading the story about the crew copping abuse he understood how disheartened the volunteer group were by the comments, but he encouraged them to focus on those who were grateful for the service.

He spurred Taylor and the group to remember that 99 per cent of the public love having the service around and need them for support and not to pay attention to the minor groups that bring trouble.

"So yeah, keep your mouths shut you members of the public who have maybe had a bit too much to drink or whatever," he said.

"Because they know - the clubbies know and they care about what they're doing as lifeguards."

Robertson was asked what keeps volunteers going for so long despite having to endure comments like the ones made at Karioitahi. The veteran guard said commitment and love for what they did kept people in the role for years.

He said it was a magic feeling to save a life by pulling someone out of the water and a calling gets quickly attached to your work. It's why a few thousand dedicated servants continue to give up their summers to provide support.

"As Churchill said in 1940 after the Hurricanes and Spitfires won the Battle of Britain - 'never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few'," he said.

"And the lifeguards are the few."

He appreciated the work he'd witnessed over the weekend when, on Saturday, Wainui beach filled up with approximately 5000 people - with 1000 in the water - on a 29C day and saw lifeguards keeping swimmers safe.

"They're part of the few and they should be proud of themselves. I'm particularly proud of the Karioitahi crew - keep your chins up fellas don't let a few morons get in your face and ruin your day."