Surf Life Saving New Zealand Sponsored Links:

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the organisation that controls surf lifesaving in New Zealand. Their strapline is 'In it for life', emphasising the long relationship many members have with the organisation, and also alluding to the fact that the organisation is committed to preserving life by preventing drowning.

The purpose of SLSNZ is to protect people from drowning and injury in New Zealand. Surf Life Saving clubs patrol designated beaches. Patrolled areas are identified by yellow and red flags, between which beach users are advised to stay. Members dress in yellow and red clothing including a t-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, shorts and a pair of their own togs.

History

In the early years of the 20th century, the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association (NZASA) controlled the brief amounts of life saviing activity by providing resuscitaiton methods and demonstrations at swimming club carnivals. The next step occurred when the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) was formed and enforced with a conference off all head centres in 1912 called by Canterbury. The RLSS was established in Christchurch and remains there to this day. The first surf clubs began in the years 1909-1910 leading of with: Castlecliff (Dunedin), Lyall Bay (Wellington) and New Brighton (Christchurch). Within the next few years other clubs started forming around the five regions: Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne/Napier/New Plynoth and Wanganui. Soon after the clubs were formed, rivalry began to take place which created the forming of competition between the clubs and regions. By early 1912 competitions were being organised by Wellington's Maranui Club, with Male members competing in squads of 8. The competitions consisted of a land drill and 'reel test'. The first national champs where clubs were able to compete was held in 1922. Through out the years onwards surf life saving in New Zealand continues to grow in size and now has over 70 surf clubs within 9 regions. All of these regions all have head offices and the surf clubs within each region are run through the management of these head offices.

Organisational structure

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the National Association representing nine Districts and around 70 Surf Life Saving Clubs. Around 13,000 people are members of SLSNZ.

Surf Life Saving has a cascading membership structure. A member of a Club is automatically a member of that District and SLSNZ. In a broad sense, SLSNZ works directly with the nine Districts and in turn, Districts work with Clubs. A national framework offers direction and protection to its members.

A Governance Board of six is elected by the Districts. The Board employs the Chief Executive (CEO) and the CEO delivers an annual management plan to support the Boards strategies that will see the organisation fulfill its purpose; Preventing drowning and injury in New Zealand.

The SLSNZ management team are based in Wellington. Their role is to support the CEO through the delivery of the management plan in their specific portfolio. SLSNZ has annual funding agreements with each District.

What is surf lifesaving?

In New Zealand, surf life saving is both a sport and a community service. To participate in either facet it is necessary to be a member of a club, and to have the ‘entry level’ qualification - the Surf Lifeguard Award.

There are a range of other surf lifeguard and surf related qualifications available through the SLSNZ structure, including more advanced lifesaving certificates, Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) qualifications, VHF radio and first aid qualifications.

Volunteer lifeguards patrol beaches and work with the public to prevent people getting in trouble. In the summer of 2005 volunteers performed over 100,000 preventative actions during 155,000 hours of beach patrols.

Sport events are held at Club, District and National level, and in age categories Under 14, Under 19 and Open. Events span the range of rescue skills and test competitors’ strength, fitness and agility in swimming, running, paddling a surf ski, board or canoe or rowing a surf boat. Racing Inflatable Rescue Boats is an increasingly popular part of the sport.

The NZ Surf League is the national U19 and Open Inter District competition televised in March.

Funding

SLSNZ's income is around $6m a year derived from sponsorship, gaming machine grants and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, as well as from individual donations. The organisations total income (New Zealand Districts and Clubs) is approximately $13m. SLSNZ does not charge a national membership levy, instead providing programmes and distributing over $2m each year. Recently, SLSNZ has started providing First Aid training to the general public, both to aid their purpose of preventing drowning and injury in New Zealand as a revenue raising mechanism.

Regions

SLSNZ's District bodies are:

Patrol Statistics

From the 2008/2009 season (as of March 19 2009)

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Totals

Don't forget to sport a pair of SeaSpecs!
They help block out harmful UVA and UVB rays that can
harm your eyes and reduce tons of glare off of that crystal blue water
you'll be flyin' across or swimming in!