Maketu Coastguard receives national recognition at excellence awards

The Maketu unit was awarded National Unit of the Year and Community Relations Unit of the Year. Photo/Supplied

Maketu Coastguard has won national recognition for its services to the community.

The Maketu unit was awarded National Unit of the Year and Community Relations Activity of the Year at the Coastguard Awards of Excellence 2018 in Wellington on Saturday.

Maketu Coastguard president Shane Beech said it was the first time the unit had been recognised in the national awards.

"It is just fantastic," he said. "We are still on a high."

Beech said the award recognised all of the hard work put into training, community activities and fundraising.

The awards were the "icing on the cake" for the club, Beech said.

"It has been a fantastic year. We have been for the last few years raising funds to build our new rescue boat which we launched two weeks ago," he said.

He said the club also won the Trustpower Supreme Award earlier this year.

Beech said the club was recognised for a "combination of reasons".

"We are a very committed unit, community orientated, we go above and beyond for our community," he said.

He thanked the community for its ongoing support.

"We would not be able to do what we do without our community."

Coastguard Awards of Excellence 2018 winners

Community Relations Activity of the Year
Winner: Coastguard Maketu

Unit Support Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Neroli Gold, Coastguard Kaikoura

Communications and Incident Management Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Peter Kara, Coastguard Nelson

Rescue Vessel Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Mike Carson, Coastguard Wanganui

Rescue of the Year
Winner: Coastguard North Canterbury

Unit of the Year
Winner: Coastguard Maketu

Coastguard Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Neroli Gold