Surf lifesavers at risk
Cutting patrols, closing dangerous beaches and more drownings are the reality without a funding boost for surf lifesaving, bosses say.
Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) wants to start a public debate about the service’s future amid concerns from chief executive Matt Williams, who says the funding model is unsustainable and doesn’t support its ever-increasing role.
As well as surf rescues increasing due to more people at beaches — partly as a result of tourism — lifeguards are often involved in land-based search and rescues and perform first aid in non-water related situations.
“It is a delicate conversation and with frustrations on both sides as ultimately if the current [funding] model does not evolve we’re talking drowning deaths — undoing all of [SLSNR’s] previous great work,” he said.
Multiple people spoken to by the Weekend Herald warn that without better financial support, drownings could increase.
Among those is Water Safety New Zealand’s chief executive Jonty Mills who said in the absence of surf lifesaving clubs and volunteers the toll would be “catastrophic”.
“The water safety sector is predominantly non-Government funded and run by volunteers and remains largely a free public service. Yet drowning remains the fourth highest cause of accidental death in New Zealand . . . our drowning problem is being severely tested by lower volunteer numbers, increased costs and reduced funding.”
Already this year the drowning toll is higher than it was this time last year — 56 compared with 52 drownings. Last year there were 78 fatalities, the majority at rivers and beaches. SLSNR covers the country’s busiest beaches in Waikato, Auckland and Northland, operating separately from Surf Life Saving New Zealand, which runs clubs in the lower North Island and the South Island.
It’s largely funded by regional council donations which are reviewed annually.
Last summer saw head counts during peak times at northern region beaches increase by 46 per cent, compared with a five-year average, to half a million people daily. Lifeguards carried out 752 rescues and assists in the same period — 28 per cent higher than the average.
Williams said unless there was sustainable funding it would have to look at cutting back services, and measures like shortening the patrol season, or closing dangerous beaches needed to be considered.
“Surf lifesaving is still perceived in most quarters as a charity,” Williams said, “rather than being seen as an essential emergency service, meeting a public need and therefore deserving of some level of funding certainty as most other emergency services.
“Where it really hits home is that there’s no Government department to look after us.”
Finance and Sports and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said he would consider any proposals put to him by SLSNR, while Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi said his budget for civil defence was “pretty tight” — $18 million.
The surf lifesaving season began Labour weekend and will continue until Easter.