How to spot a rip at Bay of Plenty beaches 28 Jan, 2021 09:00 PM 4 minutes to read A rip current. Photo / Supplied Shauni James is the Rotorua Weekender reportershauni.james@nzme.co.nz@thedailypost A study has shown swimmers need to be more aware of rips at the beach, and local water safety spokespeople agree. The study highlights that up to 78 per cent of beachgoers in New Zealand are unable to spot rips in the surf, increasing the risk that they may get caught in one. The study was conducted as part of a collaboration between Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) and beach safety experts at the Universities of Canterbury, Auckland, Waikato, and UNSW Sydney.