Mangawhai Heads VLS marks a new chapter with clubhouse reopening

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) and the Mangawhai community celebrated a landmark occasion on Saturday 2 May, marking the official reopening of the Mangawhai Heads Voluntary Lifesaving Service (MHVLS) clubhouse.

The ceremony, attended by over 100 people, signified the end of a challenging three-year journey for the club. The facility and its surrounding headland had been closed to the membership and public since 2023, following severe damage sustained from a landslide during the Auckland Anniversary Floods.

The reopening stands as a testament to the club’s endurance and the massive collaborative effort required to restore the vital community hub. Northland MP Grant McCallum, who officially cut the ribbon alongside MHVLS Club Chair Jess Costello, highlighted the club's strong local leadership. He also acknowledged the crucial, collaborative financial support provided by both Government and SLSNZ, which helped make the extensive rebuild a reality.

Minister McCallum said; “It’s organisations like this that make the whole of Northland a special place to be. Let’s celebrate the opening of this essential community facility.”

SLSNZ Board Chair Kelvyn Eglinton attended the event alongside Northern Region GM Zac Franich. Eglinton praised the tireless behind-the-scenes dedication required to repair the facility, reaffirming SLSNZ's ongoing commitment to supporting the club's growth as it resumes full operations from its home base.

For the local membership, returning to the clubhouse represents far more than just repaired infrastructure. MHVLS Club Chair, Jess Costello, highlighted the profound emotional significance of the day, noting that the building is the heart of their operations.

“This is a place of mauri, holding the lifeforce of our members,” Costello said. “It is a place where we connect to one another, to the ocean, and to our shared duty of serving Mangawhai. This has been a heavy road for the Board and Committee, but the support we have received from our Stakeholders, Surf Lifesaving Partners, Surf club members, and the wider community has been our strength.”

The official proceedings, which opened with a karakia by Te Uri O Hau kaitiaki Albert Shelford, underscored the strong, ongoing bonds between the club and mana whenua.

Te Uri O Hau Chief Executive, Rhys Manukau, spoke to the area's deep history and the close connection between Te Uri O Hau and MHVLS. He acknowledged the club's respect and manaakitanga in working alongside the Iwi, particularly in efforts to preserve Te Pa o Te Manga Te Whai. Manukau was joined by representatives from the Environs Holding team, to whom the club extended its thanks for their ongoing aroha and support.

SLSNZ would like to thank all who contributed to this important milestone, and to congratulate the members of Mangawhai Heads VLS for their commitment to their community.