Piha member receives New Year Honour

Surf Life Saving New Zealand would like to formally congratulate Rodger Curtice who has been honoured in the 2016 New Year Honours list.

The Piha Surf Life Saving Club member received a Queen's Service Medal for services to surf lifesaving.

He has given 57 years of voluntary service to the Piha Surf Life Saving Club, including time as President, and continues to patrol the beach with the Active Reserve 'Grey Watch' Patrol.

Mr Curtice organised the sponsorship of boats, equipment and funding for club building extensions for the club. He served 31 years on the Management Committee of the Auckland Surf Life Saving Association, now Surf Life Saving Northern Region, and he assisted in the running and patrolling of two national championship events; at Piha and in Napier.

He was made a Life Member of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club in 1994, of the Auckland Surf Life Saving Association in 1989 and of Surf Life Saving New Zealand in 2011.

Along with surf lifesaving, Mr Curtice was involved from inception with the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Service as Helicopter Controller and was a key player in obtaining sponsorship from Westpac. He co-founded the Auckland Jet Boat Rescue Service in 1974 and was responsible for organising the sponsorship of the first two jet rescue boats based on Auckland's West Coast.

Mr Curtice was also President of the Piha Returned and Services Association from 2003 to 2014 and is a foundation member of the Mangere Rotary 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