Surf Life Saving Clubs rescue ready this summer thanks to $100,000 in TSB grants

Press Release
November 26, 2020

Summer is at our doorstep and beaches are expected to be busier than ever this season, so TSB’s been helping our regions Surf Life Saving clubs get rescue ready.

In addition to its national partnership with Surf Life Saving New Zealand, for the fourth year in a row TSB is supporting the essential work done by clubs around the country by giving out $100,000 in grants.

TSB CEO Donna Cooper says TSB runs its annual grants programme to help local clubs get the best equipment for keeping people safe at New Zealand beaches.

“Our volunteer surf lifeguards all over the country provide an absolutely critical service for us - they save lives. Despite this, the clubs at our beaches across New Zealand rely largely on donations to operate.

“With New Zealand borders closed due to COVID-19, our beaches are expected to be busier than ever this summer, so our local Surf Life Saving clubs need tools they can rely on to run their rescue patrols effectively.

“That’s why TSB is funding equipment like All Terrain Vehicles, radios, rescue boards and tubes; helping clubs get the right set up with patrol towers, sun shelters and storage solutions, as well as supplying new training gear to get our future lifeguards ready to rescue.

“As a New Zealand owned bank, community is what we’re all about at TSB, so we’re incredibly proud to put our profit to purpose and invest in keeping our communities safe at the beach this summer.”

Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton says the organisation is very grateful for TSB’s continued support.

“Our Surf Lifeguards do an extraordinary job. They conduct hundreds of rescues and perform thousands of preventative actions on our beaches every year.

“For some clubs, however, purchasing vital lifesaving equipment or upgrading facilities to meet their community’s needs, is financially challenging, so we’re hugely grateful to TSB for their ongoing support of them.”

ENDS

More information on TSB’s grant recipients:

Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club, Bay of Plenty - $23,000

The grant will fund a new All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) for the club to support its 24/7 Emergency Response Squad with rescues on the beach and Mauao (Mount Maunganui). The club’s location means it’s relied on to support a range of rescues all year round, in the water and on land, it’s also charged with transporting emergency services onto the mountain. The new ATV TSB has funded is narrow enough to get around the Mauao tracks, while also being perfect for the beach, so will prove a valuable tool for this Surf Life Saving Club’s rescue operations all year round.

Karekare Surf Life Saving Club, Auckland - $10,000

Karekare is currently rebuilding its club and has had to move to a temporary location 10 minutes away from the beach until this work is completed in November 2021, which creates challenges for having the right equipment on hand to respond to all types of emergencies and incidents this season. TSB’s grant has enabled the club to purchase a 20 ft powered sea freight container to be based on the beach by the building site and house an IRB, ATV and other equipment so the club is ready to respond promptly during the patrol season. Minimising the time it takes to reach patients in need of rescue is absolutely critical to a successful rescue, so without the container, the travel time between the beach and clubrooms, particularly with summer congestion in the carpark and along the road, could have negative repercussions. The power facility means the club can also charge radios and other tools at the beach, and after the new club is completed, the container will be used to store equipment.

Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club, Coromandel - $10,000

Whangamata is a hugely popular beach during the summer months as visitors flock to the Coromandel region. TSB’s grant will fund a new, purpose built portable patrol tower for the club to use on the main beach. This will support lifeguards to get a better assessment of surf conditions and weather, as well as wider visibility across the beach during peak season. It will also provide more effective storage for patrol gear and first aid equipment.

Nelson Surf Life Saving Club, Tasman - $10,000

NSLSC which is responsible for responding to callouts for the whole Nelson Tasman region saw significant growth in both guard and nipper numbers in the 2019-2020 season. To ensure this growth is best used to the club’s advantage, TSB’s $10,000 grant will be used to purchase the equipment needed to train new members and provide effective patrols. This includes three sonic paddle boards, two Fenn ski kayaks, 10 radios with dry bags and searchlights, new rash vests and caps, new rope and reels, beach flags and repair equipment.

Muriwai Surf Life Saving Club, Auckland - $10,000

TSB is providing funding for Muriwai SLSC to buy three EZ-Up, high quality mobile cover from the elements, to support club training and functions, as well as six Sonic paddle boards to support junior lifeguards in building their surf skills. This essential equipment will enable the club to improve its education and training programmes.

Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club, Hawke’s Bay - $7,400

Over the years Waimarama SLSC has seen a steady increase in beach goers and as a result, the club needs more equipment and replacements for some aging gear which is essential for its core duties. TSB’s grant is supporting the club to purchase replacement equipment including marine handheld submersible floating radios for IRB, a new radio and antenna for quad bike, speakers for the patrol tower, two-way VHF handheld radios with dry bags for beach use and safety cones. As well as this, the grant will fund a new $4,000 defib AED which will be housed in the club van and readily available for emergency use.

Foxton Surf Life Saving Club, Manawatu - $6,300

Foxton SLSC is using its grant to buy a replacement mobile patrol tower to facilitate beach patrols. Due to tidal change at Foxton beach the club isn’t able to use a permanent tower like many others. A portable tower will maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the club’s lifeguards because it will enable them to set up as close to the water’s edge as possible at all times. This vantage point will support timely rescues, better visibility and support education and safety thanks to more interaction with beach goers. The clubs current tower is constructed from galvanised water pipe which is rusting from the inside out, offers no sun protection for lifeguards, is too heavy for the large majority of guards to shift, and the access ladder onto the tower is steep and poses health and safety concerns. The new tower TSB is funding has been specifically designed to cater for the clubs needs while also ensuring these are issues the club will no longer contend with.

South Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, Christchurch - $6,000

TSB’s grant will support the South Brighton club to introduce a new community AED station for the wider public to use 24/7. Providing 24/7 AED access in public places increases the chances of survival for people who have heart-related emergencies. For every minute defibrillation is delayed, the chances of survival drops by around 10%.The AED station will be installed in an outdoor secured cabinet as part of the new club house currently under construction. It’s a great addition to build on the club’s reputation as a key first aid provider for the community, while also providing a service beyond the patrol season.

Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club, Northland - $5,146

During the hot summer months in Northland, quality shelter from the elements is critical for protecting lifeguards on patrol between the flags. Waipu Cove’s current gazebo doesn’t provide the shelter required for such a popular beach, and it’s not in good condition, with a ripped roof and collapsed metal framing on one side. TSB’s grant will support the club to buy two new gazebos’ in time for patrol season. These will also be used during regular training days and functions like championships and fundraising events at the club.

Raglan Surf Life Saving Club, Waikato - $5,000

The Raglan club needs urgent maintenance to ensure it is functional for the summer season. Currently the gear shed doors have reached the end of their life due to the harsh environment, meaning the space can no longer be relied on for securely storing lifesaving equipment because it lacks security and isn’t watertight. TSB’s grant will support the club to replace shed doors and flashings at the clubhouse to ensure they’re set up for summer. 

Pukehina Surf Life Saving Club, Bay of Plenty - $5,000

Pukehina Surf Rescue is currently developing a call out squad which will provide 24/7 lifesaving capability. As part of the club’s preparation, it’s currently training a group of guards to levels suitable for responding in the conditions they’re likely to experience during emergency all-hours call outs. There are many requirements for the different operational environments they could be asked to operate in and the club is in need of a range of equipment to be rescue ready, so TSB is coming to the party with $5,000 to support the Pukehina call out squad.

Waikuku Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Canterbury - $2,500

The Waikuku club is in urgent need of new rescue tubes to replace its current set which are falling apart and no longer fit for purpose. Rescue tubes are a critical piece of equipment for the club of approximately 450 members, used by its 40+ lifeguards to patrol busy beach and undertake regular training sessions, including the junior surf, surf sports and rookie lifeguard programmes. TSB’s grant will cover the costs for a new set of tubes for the club.

For more information:

Philippa Walker

TSB Media and Communications Manager

027 378 3759 / Philippa.walker@tsb.co.nz