Kia ora Surf Life Saving whānau,

What a start to 2024!  For most of us, blue sky has been stretching overhead.  This has, of course, made for some big numbers at the beach but thanks to the hard work of all our surf lifeguards, the vast majority of people have been returning home safely with big smiles on their faces, and sand in their hair.

We’re only two-and-a-bit months into the season but so far surf lifeguards have tallied up over 133,000 hours on patrol, carried out over 950 first aids, and rescued over 420 people.  Simply outstanding.  Some of these rescues are acknowledged in the December bp Rescue of the Month, which can be found below.  Once again, the judges were blown away by the commitment and expertise displayed by surf lifeguards.

In this month’s Member News, you’ll also find the 2023 National Beach and Coastal Safety Report, how Olivia Corrin made history at the Nutri Grain Ironwoman, and information on how KFC and the T20 Black Clash are supporting SLSNZ.

It’s great to get a jam-packed Member News out to start 2024 off with a bang!  We hope you enjoy reading this monthly e-newsletter and we look forward to sharing more of your news and stories throughout the year ahead!

Happy reading and ka kite anō.

Upcoming National Sport Events – Key Dates and Information

The start of the year is always a busy time for surf lifeguards.  Not only are beaches busy, but national competitions also get underway!  They’re an important part of the movement, bringing us all together and providing opportunities for Juniors through to Masters to develop and compete across a huge range of disciplines.  To check out what’s coming up and everything you need to know, click here.

Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge

The next big battle between Australia and New Zealand is brewing with teams on both sides of the ditch preparing for next month’s Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge (TTSBC).  Every year SLSNZ and Surf Life Saving Australia select an Open Male, Open Female, U23 Development Male, and U23 Development Female surf boat crew.  This year we’ve got four awesome teams heading over to compete at Lorne Beach, Victoria, Australia on 17 February.  Congratulations to all those who were selected.  We look forward to seeing you take on the Aussies!

History Made and Plenty of Success for Kiwis at Nutri-Grain Series

It was a fantastic Nutri-Grain Ironman/Ironwoman Series for Kiwi athletes, with a number of incredible finishes.  History was made when Olivia Corrin finished first in Round Three, becoming the first New Zealand Ironwoman to win a round!  She said that coming around the final corner and seeing the tape, she knew she had to grab it first.  What an incredible feat! And something that will no doubt inspire athletes for years to come.  Click here to read more.  

Joe Collins also delivered an impressive win, taking out Round Two.  The race was brutal from the get-go, with an impressive and competitive field, but Joe managed to pull it off, clocking up his second career race win.  One News interviewed him before the race – it’s a great watch!  Click here for more.

bp Rescue of the Month

SLSNZ would like to congratulate the winners of the 2023/2024 December bp Rescue of the Month.  Throughout December, surf lifeguards around the country responded to a range of incidents, however there were three that stood out.  These incidents showed the incredible range of skills possessed by surf lifeguards and their critical role in ensuring people’s safety.  Well done to all of those involved, along with the other emergency services who they worked alongside.

Nominations for January bp Rescue of the Month are now open.  For more information and a nomination form click here.

SLSNZ Releases 2023 National Beach and Coastal Safety Report

Every year SLSNZ releases its National Beach and Coastal Safety Report, and the latest version revealed a distressing toll of 46 fatal drownings along the coastline between July 2022 and June 2023.  It brought the ten-year total to 424 fatalities, a figure we here at SLSNZ think should be considered a national tragedy.  While the report itself doesn’t provide answers to how we get this number down, it serves as a critical resource, highlighting issues and guiding potential solutions.  If you haven’t already, make sure you check it out here.

Let’s Help Omanu Beach SLSC Win $5,000!

Every three months, Tauranga Crossing runs a campaign called Local Legends, aimed at improving the lives of its local community.  This quarter, Omanu Beach SLSC is one of the three finalists.  If they receive the most votes, they will be awarded $5,000!  You can vote online once per day by clicking here.  Voting closes on 31 January.  Let’s get behind Omanu Beach SLSC and help them kick-start the year with a fantastic and well-deserved donation!

Police Call on Surf Lifeguards to Upskill

The Police Canterbury Search and Rescue (SAR) team is occasionally tasked with operating around rocky cliffs and treacherous seas which requires a unique set of skills.  So, who did they turn to for help and advice in this area?  Surf lifeguards, of course!  Alongside Coastguard, surf lifeguards from Sumner Taylor’s SAR Squad joined forces for a combined training session, showing great inter-agency collaboration.  Click here to read more.

Get Yourself Sorted with a Free Will

The start of a new year is always a good time to sort yourself out, tick a few boxes, and complete those things hanging around on your to-do list.  One crucial thing to straighten out is your will.  We know, we know, it’s one of those tasks that often gets pushed aside, but do you know what?  It’s never been easier to protect your loved ones, thanks to Australia’s leading online will-writing platform, which is now available in New Zealand.  It’s simple to use, trusted by thousands, safe and secure, and every will is reviewed by a lawyer.  Thanks to its partnership with SLSNZ, it’s also affordable.  From 26 January to 4 February SLSNZ supporters can get their wills done for FREE!  Just click here to learn more.

TVNZ Breakfast Celebrates Surf Lifeguards

On the very last Breakfast show of 2023, a group of surf lifeguards were asked to be part of the live broadcast at TVNZ’s Auckland studio.  It was a festive and exciting morning for those that took part and the surf lifeguards involved did a great job sharing our safety messages and describing the important work our community does during the busy summer period.  Thanks to everyone involved!  It was a great way to wrap up the year.

One News Shines a Light on Generosity of Red Beach SLSC

Earlier this summer, One News covered the heart-warming story of Red Beach SLSC’s surf lifeguards helping a woman confided to a wheelchair, swim for the first time in five years, thanks to their Beachwheels water bike.  This is a fantastic example of how generous the Surf Life Saving community is and how accommodating surf lifeguards are to all beachgoers.  Click here to read more.

Surf Life Saving Family Features in Taranaki Daily News

The Taranaki Daily News did a beautiful piece on the Velvin family which has been involved with the Surf Life Saving movement for generations – it’s in their blood!  This will no doubt sound like a familiar story for many in the movement as often clubs are a family affair made up of all ages and relationships. Click here to read more. 

Surf Lifeguards to Represent SLSNZ at Australian Leadership College

A massive congratulations to Ashleigh Hurring from Fitzroy SLSC and Victoria Mulrennan from United North Piha SLSC for being selected for the upcoming Australian National Leadership College!  The week-long annual programme, which will take place in Sydney from 4-10 February, is dedicated to cultivating leadership skills and fostering the development of young leaders within the Surf Life Saving movement.  It’s a fantastic programme to be a part of and we can’t wait to see what skills the pair will bring back to New Zealand.  Click here to read more.

Toyota Financial Services Promote SLSNZ

We’d like to thank Toyota Financial Services, which has supported SLSNZ for more than a decade and continues to supply us with vehicles across the country.  They are celebrating their partnership with us through a great video they created, which will play ahead of One News Sport each night for the next few weeks.  You can check out the video here.

KFC Super 6’s for Surf

Just like surf lifesaving, cricket goes hand in hand with summer which is why we’re stoked to be partnering with our mates at KFC for ‘KFC Super 6’s for Surf’. For every six smashed during the Dream 11 Super Smash competition, KFC will donate $100 to SLSNZ. Over $17,000 has been raised so far this season!

In addition to Super Smash, the T20 Black Clash event, which sees the country’s biggest rugby and cricket stars play against each other, will also see funds raised.  For every six during the ‘KFC Super Over for Surf’, KFC will donate $1,000 to SLSNZ. The Black Clash will be held at Bay Oval in Tauranga on 20 January and will be broadcast on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ from 6:30pm.  Make sure you tune in!

Cartel Media Onboard for Another Summer

This summer marks the seventh consecutive year of Cartel Media teaming up with SLSNZ!  You might not be familiar with their work, but you’ve likely seen it.  Those billboards hanging from some of our Surf Life Saving clubs around the country?  They’re by Cartel Media, and the clubs hosting these billboards received a percentage of the advertising costs as a donation.  Cartel Media is also displaying safety messages on billboards in gyms.  So, as people prepare for summer, they’re encountering these crucial messages even before hitting the beach.

Go Media Help Spread Safety Messages

You might have spotted digital billboards on your way to the beach this season, promoting the new Safeswim app which is now available.  This advertising is all thanks to Go Media, who have partnered with SLSNZ.  Getting this message out to as many people as possible is vital in keeping beachgoers safe. 

CREDIT:  MTG Hawke’s Bay – Museum Theatre Gallery

A group photograph of the women and children of Hawke’s Bay’s Te Awa Swimming and Life Saving club.  The photograph is belived to have been taken in the early twentieth century.  The exact date and photographer are unknown.