Marine radio team seeks funding from Government

A volunteer marine radio team in the top of the south is seeking Government funding so its membership fees stay affordable.

Marlborough-Nelson Marine Radio (MNMR) responds to mayday calls in Marlborough, Nelson and Cook Strait on six VHF radio channels.

Many parts of the Marlborough Sounds are not covered by cellphone reception or Maritime New Zealand’s radio network, so the charitable organisation has its own repeater towers, funded by members’ annual fees.

But the organisation’s new president, Stephanie Atwell, said the cost of the network was becoming increasingly expensive.

‘‘The maintenance of the repeaters is quite costly. It’s $10,000 per year per repeater, and we’ve got eight.’’

While Maritime NZ provided Channel 16, the national mayday channel, Marlborough was one of a few regions where the hilly terrain blocked the transmissions in some areas, Atwell said. ‘‘It’s only a line-ofsight coverage.

‘‘All around the country there are independent channels grown out of need. But none of them are funded. So our claim is for all the stations, not just us. There are 13 stations providing a service in difficult areas for the benefit of locals.’’

Other rescue agencies, including other volunteer teams, got funding from the fuel excise tax, and it appeared that the volunteer radio group met the criteria, Atwell said.

The organisation was in discussions with the Ministry of Transport about getting government funding, with the help of Kaiko¯ ura MP Stuart Smith, she said.

‘‘If we got that regular funding, that would be our sustainability.

‘‘How high can you go for the service we provide? The fees have to hit a ceiling somewhere.’’

Smith said he considered MNMR an important service in a region popular with boaties and prone to natural disasters.

‘‘It’s not just for small boat emergencies with recreational boats and fishermen, but ships like the Mikhail Lermontov. It’s absolutely crucial in an emergency.’’

Maritime NZ rescue co-ordination centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) and safety services manager Mike Hill said the organisation supported the idea in theory, but it would depend on what the funding was used for, and the groups would need to meet certain reporting standards.

‘‘There are challenges faced by any community group that applies for government funding . . . there’s a reporting regime and reporting measures, evidence of what you’ve done with the money, and how well it’s working,’’ Hill said.

‘‘So we need to make sure we’re not duplicating services, but filling the gaps. But we’re continuing to work with them.’’

Maritime NZ should stay the first port of call for mayday calls, Hill said.

‘‘But we welcome the coastal radio stations – we are all part of the same system, rather than being in competition. They do some wonderful work.’’

Boaties should always take at least two forms of communication, such as distress beacons and personal locator beacons, and cellphones, Hill said.

MNMR also encouraged members to lodge trip reports.