A $900,000 a year contestable fund run by the Northland Regional Council may be restricted to four emergency service groups only.
NRC is proposing in its Long Term Plan, which is out for public consultation, to make the fund, currently allocated to the Northland Rescue Helicopter, northern branches of Surf Lifesaving, St John and Coastguard, non-contestable.
That will enable funding to be locked in for these vital life-saving services.
Youth in Emergency Services could potentially be included as a beneficiary.
It gives young people a chance to build hands-on emergency services skills by training with Coastguard, St John, NZ Red Cross, NZ Police and Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving.
Emergency scenarios and an exercise based on a mock disaster are part of their training programmes.
The contestable fund was initially non-contestable before NRC and community concerns that several life saving groups deserved more consistent, region-wide support than the ad hoc, individual council allocations of the past, prompted a change in its status.
NRC has allocated $525,000 annually for three years to the Northland Rescue Helicopter, $120,000 to the surf clubs, $90,000 to St John and $84,000 to Coastguard.
Two search and rescue organisations did not make the final cut, and six other groups didn't get past the first of the two-stage assessment for the new allocations which replace funding dished out variously by Northland's four councils.
The applicants collectively sought $4,811,420 over the three years, or roughly twice the available fund.
Northland ratepayers are paying out $11.76 per household each year for the contestable fund.
NRC will consider how best to divvy up the funding to the four emergency service groups in June.
The deadline for public consultation on NRC's Long Term Plan is 4pm on April 17.
NRC has organised a "Have Your Say" event between March 20 and 27 in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Dargaville, and Mangawhai.
Visit www/nrc.govt.nz/ltp2018 for more information.