Proactive surf live-saving is seen as the reason why Otago and Southland clubs recorded no rescues over the busy summer period.
Over the weekend, a total of 42 rescues were recorded by clubs in the Canterbury region, including 30 by lifeguards at Taylors Mistake Surf Life Saving New Zealand Southern regional manager Stu Bryce confirmed, while no rescues had been carried out in the Southland and Otago areas, ''that is not because of the conditions but because of the proactive life-guarding''.
''We have had feedback from the public and older members saying if the guys weren't as active as they are, there would have been rescues.''
That included lifeguards communicating surf conditions to the public, and making sure they swam between the flags.
The goal was to have no rescues and, given there had been some extremely busy days, such as Christmas Day and last Saturday, this was pleasing, he said.
The season for the Dunedin City Council-funded regional lifeguards at St Kilda, St Clair, Brighton and Warrington will finish on January 25, while volunteers would be on until mid-March, but only at weekends.
