National jandal day for surf lifesavers

Photo / Sylvie Whinray

New Zealanders are being urged to show how they can handle the jandal next month on an appeal day for Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

Kiwis from all walks of life are being encouraged to don jandals on December 7 to support the nationwide street collection for the voluntary organisation.

Surf Life Saving spokesman Geoff Barry said it would be the first time the group had held a national fundraising day and hoped it would become an annual event.

"New Zealand has a drowning rate twice that per capita of Australia, so we need to be doing so much more like increasing public education, expanding our services to increase our beach access and meeting the demand for more equipment and training for our lifeguards."

The national Jandal Day is a joint initiative between Surf Life Saving New Zealand and wine range, Bach 22.

- NZPA