Coastguard volunteers give over 300,000 hours to communities

STOP by any Coastguard unit in the South Island and you will encounter New Zealanders calmly and professionally going about the intense business of saving lives at sea.

Coastguard volunteers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

National Volunteer Week provides an opportunity for us to stop and appreciate the invaluable contribution made by Coastguard volunteers to our communities.

Their volunteers come from many different walks of life but all have a desire to give back and provide help to those who need it most. For some Coastguard volunteers, this may see them going from being in a suit at the office, to performing a rescue, in a single afternoon.

Over 300 Coastguard volunteers gave their time and skills to help keep communities in the South Island safe on the water last year, bringing more than 260 Kiwis home safely.

Many people don’t realise that each crew member on a Coastguard rescue vessel and every support person back at the 16 Coastguard units around the South Island are volunteers. All Coastguard crew members are trained to the highest standards, training that they dedicate hours to in addition to working and family life.

Last year alone saw Coastguard volunteers nationwide give over 300,000 hours to communities around New Zealand.

Being a volunteer with Coastguard is a big commitment, not only for the volunteers themselves but also their families and employers. National Volunteer Week provides a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the role all these people play in keeping our communities safe at sea.