Lifeguards at a Mount Maunganui's Tay Street Beach have reported being verbally abused with foul language by a beachgoer

Surf Life Saving NZ has issued a statement describing the events on Tuesday afternoon.

It says any abuse directed at lifeguards is completely unacceptable

Eastern Region Manager, Chaz Gibbons-Campbell, says apart from this - most public interactions this summer have been really positive.

He says lifeguards have been thanked by people swimming between the flags - who've also been receptive to their safety advice.