Summer Appeal collection day activities

The Wellington Phoenix will make a special appearance at a free event for the general public in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter tomorrow in celebration of the Surf Life Saving Summer Appeal collection day.

The event will take place from 12-3pm at Karanga Plaza in Wynyard Quarter, by the tidal stairs.

The Phoenix is an official charity partner of Surf Life Saving New Zealand. The team is playing their only Auckland match of the season at Eden Park on Saturday (February 1) and they will be on site at Karanga Plaza from 1.30- 2.30pm tomorrow and from 1.45pm - 2.15pm they will be offering people the chance to kick for prizes, including tickets to Saturday's game.

Surf Life Saving ambassador and New Zealand Music Award winner Jamie McDell will also be on site from 12.30-1pm  to perform some of the songs off her debut album 'Six Strings and a Sailboat.'

To top things off, lifeguards will be performing in-water tube rescue demonstrations by the tidal stairs at 12.15pm, 1pm, 1.30pm and 2.35pm, highlighting the skills used by volunteer lifeguards when saving people's lives on our beaches.

There are many activities occurring across the country on Friday January 31 to get the community involved and raising funds for the Surf Life Saving Summer Appeal.

We are asking the community to dress for summer tomorrow as a part of sharing this special day. Wear your board shorts, zinc, sun hat or Jandals. Perhaps dress up your workplace and, importantly, give generously to the surf lifeguards and our volunteers on the streets. 

As a charity organisation, Surf Life Saving relies on the public's support to fund this essential rescue service to save more lives on our beaches this summer.

Our lifeguards give up their summer to keep a watchful eye on New Zealand's favourite playground, the beach, but they need the public's help to keep them there. There are still a huge range of costs to keep volunteer lifeguards trained and equipped with the gear they need to save lives.

This summer, around 4,000 volunteer lifeguards will spend over 200,000 hours on patrol. During an average summer, over 1,200 people are rescued from life threatening situations. Last year that number was over 1,600.

For over 100 years, we've kept you safe between the flags. As a charity, your donations have made that possible. Today, our future is in your hands.

Text the word 'SURF' to 933 to automatically donate $3 or click here  to make a donation online.

Editor's note: 

Media are invited to attend the activation on Friday January 31 between 12pm-3pm. To register your interest and to reserve your media pack, please RSVP to SLSNZ Media & Communications Specialist Lisa Honeybone on 0276-488-823 or email lisa.honeybone@surflifesaving.org.nz.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Honeybone, Media & Communications Specialist, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.honeybone@surflifesaving.org.nz