"What we find generally speaking is we can raise money for new boats, radios, safety equipment etc, but what we struggle with is operational expenditure - to get diesel or petrol. For the running costs of a small organisation, people are less inclined to support that, although locally we have been very fortunate."
Nationally, nearly 7000 New Zealanders – 19 a day on average – are brought home safely from the country's seas, lakes and rivers after an emergency.
The Hawke's Bay Coastguard has 12 radio operators and 18 "wet crew" - including trainees, operational crew and three skippers - all of whom are volunteers.
They attend about 35 jobs a year - both assistance jobs and ones where the police have asked for their help.
Coastguard NZ CEO Patrick Holmes said more than 2000 volunteers give over 300,000 hours of their free time every year to make sure Kiwis can enjoy New Zealand's magnificent waterways, secure in the knowledge that should anything go wrong, someone highly organised, trained and equipped will be there to help.
"Our volunteers will spring to the assistance of anyone in trouble – from a boat not starting or helping a kayaker or surfer in difficulty, to rescuing a man overboard, responding to an emergency flare, locating a drifting vessel or attending to a medical emergency at sea."
Coastguard New Zealand urges Kiwis heading out on the water this summer to keep these three key messages in mind:
- Always wear your lifejacket
- Take two separate waterproof forms of communication
- If something goes wrong, alert Coastguard as soon as you can – never be afraid to contact them
Coastguard is a charity and with limited government funding it needs your help. You can donate to their cause here: www.coastguard.nz/donate-now/
