New Zealand Surf Life Savers say they've already cottoned on to the potential benefits of using drones, to reach people in trouble in the water.

Australian lifeguards have used a drone for the first time, to save swimmers off the New South Wales coast.

Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club says it's also experimenting with drone technology.

Spokesman Tim Jago said the Aussies are looking at heavy lift drones, but they're very expensive to build.

"So we're having to work with existing manufacturers to customise what they're producing to meet our needs, but we think ultimately there is going to be a worldwide market for these things and so the manufacturers are going to get behind us."

Jago said they're talking to manufacturers about drones with the necessary agility and resistance to water.

"Plus the robustness and the water-proofness (sic) and the ability to be immersed, and add our own custom design to it, which is these inflatable arms that we think are going to be pretty important."