Public rallies to support Papamoa surf club in Tauranga

More than $35,000 has been raised for the Pāpāmoa surf club after a call to arms a week ago.

Last week the club was $700,000 short of its $5.2 million budget to rebuild its rapidly deteriorating clubhouse, however, public donations and other efforts have already shaved that down to just under $600,000.

Local businesses, individuals and even the mayor have generously given what they can to help get the project over the line.

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless made a $10,000 donation out of his own pocket towards the revival of the club.

Brownless said he wanted to kick off the idea that people who are financially able to donate should.

To encourage people to give what they could, Brownless said he thought he should really lead the way.

The lifesaving club is so important to the community, not only for saving lives but also training young people to give back, he said.

Surf lifesavers are "always there when we need them" and the community could not sit there and say "someone else needs to do something", he said.

Brownless said growing up he spent a lot of time at the city's different beaches and became appreciative of the "important work" lifesavers do.

Another anonymous donor gifted a $10,000 cheque on Monday night.

The 1990 clubhouse was originally built for 100 members, but the club now has more than 800.

The new build would triple the size of the current building and would run along the sand dunes, and create more storage for the club.

Chair of the Trust Jim Pearson said they are 90 per cent there in fundraising for the club rebuild. Photo / George Novak

Local law firm Hayden Law donated $1000 towards the rebuild.

Owner of the firm Simon Hayden said the surf club provided a vital service to Pāpāmoa and saved lives every year.

"What price can you put on that?"

Hayden said he hoped the donation would challenge other businesses in the area to give too.

Members of the public also donated more than $1000 via the club's Givealittle page over the past week.

The charity house and land is the next big ticket item for fundraising, likely to deliver $450,000 to the club's rebuild project.

However, these funds have already been counted in the total raised.

A 383sq m section at Lot 303 Te Wharo Dr was donated in December last year by Terrace Views and GJ Gardner offered to build a 182sq m house to be auctioned off for the charity house and land project, to help raise the money needed to fund the $5m rebuild.

The auction is set to take place on April 18.

The board secretary of the Pāpāmoa Community Surf Rescue Base Trust, Michelle Crook, said costs could go up for the rebuild every week due to building inflation, so they were seeking a green light as soon as possible.

Crook said any amount was welcomed and appreciated and with the generous support received, it was clear the build was a "community project".

In the past year or so, two generous individuals each donated more than $100,000 towards the build, on top of a range of other community donations, making it clear that there was a huge "quantum of support" behind the project, she said.

The trust has stripped the build right down to make the cost as reasonable as possible but needed to ensure enough quality for a medium to long-term lifespan, said Crook.

Trust chairman Jim Pearson said they were 90 per cent there in fundraising and hoped to "harness the community and remaining funders for the final push".

The club aims to start the rebuild project next month and have the new clubhouse completed by November.

To donate, search Pāpāmoa Surf Lifesaving Club on www.givealittle.co.nz.