A group from the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club, who were present at the plane rescue asked the Piha Surf Club for advice, and started to form the Karekare Surf Lifesaving Patrol. In the early days teaching and training of new members was the key focus and over time the KKSLSP began to compete in surf carnivals. A local family allowed the KKSLSP to use their tennis changing sheds and some rooms at t
he base of the Watchman as the surf clubhouse. In 1939, the war brought changes, and the surf club went into recess as members went off to war to do their duty. During this time the club bus was parked permanently in Karekare, without wheels, in case the Japanese invaded via the coast. The KKSLSP built a gear shed on a rock in the centre of the beach in the late 1940's, all that remains are now almost covered by moving sand dunes. The current clubhouse opened in 1982 and has space for 30 bunk beds, with areas to store rescue boats and equipment, and all the modern first aid apparatus such as oxygen and defibrillators, to give fast medical attention in the quickest time possible. Karekare is one of the most dangerous places to swim in New Zealand. This has lead to the KKSLSP being awarded the most meritorious rescue awards of any Lifesaving Club in New Zealand. The KKSLSP also prides itself on having very high patrolling standards and constantly having the highest preventative rescue statistics relative to the number of people that use the beach. Over the period of the KKSLSP existence more than 5,000 people have been rescued at Karekare beach.
