Pauanui Beach is patrolled by a mix of volunteer lifeguards and Surf Life Saving Bay of Plenty Regional Lifeguards. The volunteer lifeguards patrol the beach on weekends, the regional lifeguards patrol the beach on weekdays during the busy summer holiday period.

The length of the Regional Lifeguard season is determined by the level of funding made available each year by the Thames Coromandel District Council. Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club believes that lifeguards are required to patrol Pauanui Beach throughout the entire month of January and the start of February until the start of the new school year.