Surf Life Saving New Zealand

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.

Purpose

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.

As of November 2005, no people have ever drowned while swimming between the flags.^[1]

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, Inflatible 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.

How is it funded?

SLSNZ's income is around $6m a year derived from sponsorship, gaming machine grants and The NZ 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:

References

↑ Surf Life Saving New Zealand's website

2. Surf Life Saving New Zealand first aid training

[1] Surf Life Saving New Zealand's website

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