Celebrating our members on International Volunteer Day

As its thousands of volunteers gear up for a bumper summer season, Surf Life Saving New Zealand is also taking the opportunity to thank its lifeguards and club administrators on International Volunteer Day 2015.

Created by the United Nations to celebrate and recognise volunteers across the globe, International Volunteer Day is held annually on December 5.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton says on behalf of the organisation, he would like to thank the people who will volunteer to help make our beaches a safer place for Kiwis and their families to enjoy their summer.

"As a charity, we rely on our volunteers who are the heart and soul of our clubs, to keep them up and running. Most of them have full time jobs and they still manage to find the time to protect their communities," he says.

Mr Dalton says the 2015 BP Rescue of the Year winners are a prime example of the heroic volunteers we have within our organisation.

Last year, they undertook a daring rescue in the caves near the Gannet Colony at Muriwai and saved the life of a young surfer.

"These are everyday Kiwis who are giving up their time and energy to help their local community and they do so selflessly, year after year," he says.

Surf Life Saving is an essential rescue service as well as a charity that needs the public's support to enable lifeguards to save more lives.

To show your support for our volunteer lifeguards text FLAGS to 849 to automatically donate $3 or click here to make a donation online.

The 2015 BP Rescue of the Year winners from Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club.

For more information, please contact:

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