Jamie McDell calls on beach-goers to support patrolled beaches in DHL Summer campaign

Each year, New Zealand's 74 local Surf Life Saving Clubs help to keep over 80 beaches safer and deliver a key safety message to the community - to swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags. This summer, the DHL Summer campaign aims to further amplify this beach safety message while acknowledging the great work of Surf Life Saving Clubs.

Jamie McDell, singer-songwriter, active lifeguard and Surf Life Saving ambassador, is calling on all beach-goers to get behind the campaign and vote for their favourite patrolled beach at www.dhlsummer.com.

"Each year, clubs around the country dedicate around 220,000 hours to provide essential lifesaving services at the beach," McDell said. "New Zealand is blessed with beautiful beaches and we are lucky to have Surf Lifeguards patrolling at 80 of the most popular locations this summer. Get behind your local club and say thanks for all their hard work by voting for them in the DHL Summer campaign," she added.

In the 2015/16 season, approximately 4,500 lifeguards performed more than 100,000 preventative actions during 221,845 hours of beach patrol around New Zealand.

Each vote made at www.dhlsummer.com for a patrolled beach will enter the local club into the draw to win a DHL Sun Safe Beach Canopy, a valuable piece of beach equipment to protect the lifeguards and keep them out of the sun. Individuals who vote will also be entered into the draw to win 1 of 100 DHL towels.

Mark Foy, Country Manager at DHL Express New Zealand, said: "DHL is extremely proud of the work that Surf Life Saving Clubs around New Zealand undertake each summer to keep beach goers safe. Surf Life Saving New Zealand's safety message, to swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags, helps to ensure beach-goers have a safer experience.

"At DHL, we want to further share this message through the DHL Summer campaign, as well as thank lifeguards for their dedication to identifying potential dangers at the beach and assisting those who find themselves in trouble."

The DHL Summer campaign will run from 16 January to 12 February, 2017. To vote for your favourite patrolled beach, head to www.dhlsummer.com.

DHL has been partnering with Surf Life Saving New Zealand to deliver safer beaches since 2003.

For more information, please contact:

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