Govt spends more than $60m to keep Surf Life Saving and Coastguard running

The Government is spending more than $60 million over four years to allow Surf Life Saving NZ and Coastguard NZ to fund functions.

Surf Life Saving NZ would receive $44.1m over the four-year period while Coastguard NZ would receive the remaining $19.1m.

The $63.6m package comprised of reprioritised transport spending, primarily from underspends in the last financial year, according to a statement from Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Brown and Doocey made the pre-Budget transport announcement this morning in Auckland.

Luxon said today’s funding boost was “much needed”, given how important beach and coastal activities were to Kiwis.

He said Surf Life Saving NZ and Coastguard NZ were facing “significant cost pressures”.

Brown said there was a “tragically high drowning toll” and as such, the services provided by the two organisations were essential.

Of the four new Coastguard bases funded in this package, one would be in Mangawhai, Brown said.

Doocey said the Coastguard would be involved in the Government’s broader work on improving the 111 emergency call system.

Some of the package was new funding as part of Budget 24. It wasn’t clear how much of the $63.6m was reprioritised or new funding.

The previous Government allocated $63 million to a four-year water safety package - including Surf Life Saving NZ and Coastguard NZ - in its Budget 2020.

Surf Life Saving’s funding would address service costs, upgrade clubs and equipment, help develop beach safety initiatives and build a regular donor base.

The Coastguard spending would go towards regular costs, national membership promotion, four new bases and ongoing maintenance of Coastguard vessels and aircraft.

“Costs are rising across the board for these largely volunteer-driven organisations. The funding will cover operational expenses for both organisations as well as rescue equipment, facilities and maintenance,” Doocey said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Brown unveiled a new roading project scheme, Roads of Regional Significance. Similar to the current Roads of National Significance, the programme will focus on important roads in the regions.

Luxon, Brown, right, and Doocey, left, give a pre-Budget transport announcement about Surf Life Saving NZ and Coastguard NZ funding. Photo / Corey Fleming

Today’s news is the latest pre-Budget announcement by the Government. Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced $153 million in funding for charter schools and Defence Minister Judith Collins has announced $571m in funding to boost pay for Defence Force staff, upgrade its NH90 helicopter fleet and replace dated military vehicles.

Today’s announcement comes as the clock ticks down to the Budget day, May 30. Luxon made this first pre-Budget speech this week hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber.

“We were elected on a platform of delivering tax relief to those families and I don’t plan on breaking that promise,” Luxon told business leaders in Auckland.

“Kiwis struggling with the cost of living – the squeezed middle – deserve support.”

Last week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis promised 83 per cent of New Zealanders over the age of 15 and 93 per cent of households would benefit from tax relief in the forthcoming Budget.

“We will responsibly deliver these lower taxes for low and middle-income families, by fully-funding them with a package of careful savings and targeted revenue measures,” Willis said.