Surf life-saving is one of many Hawke's Bay organisations dependent on volunteers, and the Cooper family from Napier epitomise the community spirit that keeps the region's beaches safe.
This year, Surf Lifesaving Hawke's Bay's volunteer of the year Leah Cooper takes the award just two years after her mum was given the same accolade.
Over the last year, the 17-year-old from the Pacific Surf-life Saving Club carried out 65 hours on patrol, another 35 hours guarding at events and about 60 hours educating young people and the general public on water safety. She then topped that up with more than 20 hours of fundraising, and generally just "helping out".
So, all up that would have been about 200 hours of voluntary work in the year.
However, some club officials say that was "just scratching the surface" of the time she put in.
"Volunteer surf lifeguards, like Leah, are truly vital to our organisation and to the whole community," Surf Life Saving New Zealand lifesaving manager Allan Mundy said.
"Our volunteers save hundreds of lives each year while on patrol, plus they contribute to safety around water in so many other ways through education and training of other lifeguards.
"Leah has really demonstrated the impact volunteers have in the community this year, and we're really proud of her efforts and dedication in keeping people safe."
Speaking to Hawke's Bay Today the Year 13 pupil, who volunteers in between school hours, said winning the Volunteer of the Year award last week was "nice" but added she felt just volunteering was enough reward.
"I've been doing surf life-saving as a little kid and became a lifeguard at 14. I do patrols most Saturdays and Sundays for five hours during the patrolling season and then help with the Nippers.
"I just like helping out. They've given a lot to me so I want to give it back."
She said she could not see herself stopping anytime soon, so there would be more volunteering ahead.
"It's something I've always done, and my mum Anne won the same award just two years before me because she does a lot with our club as well. As I got more involved with the club, she got more involved too."
She said seeing people get into Pacific Beach and helping the little Nippers groups and watching the children develop were some of the most rewarding aspects of her work.
"Event guarding and instructing event guarding are some of my favourite things to do because you get to interact directly with the community and show them support as they get involved in sports like IronMaori and triathlons."