Surf Life Saving New Zealand
| Surf Life Saving New Zealand Inc. | |
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 SLSNZ Logo |
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| Abbreviation | SLSNZ |
| Motto | In it for Life |
| Formation | July 14, 1910 |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Incorpoarated Society, Charity |
| Purpose/focus | To prevent drowning and injury in New Zealand. |
| Headquarters | Wellington |
| Region served | New Zealand |
| Membership | 15 000 |
| President | Robert Harvey |
| Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Staff | 40 |
| Volunteers | 15 000 |
| Website | SLSNZ Website |
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the national association representing 73 Surf Life Saving clubs in New Zealand.[1] The organisation's motto is 'In it for life'. This refers to both the long relationship many members have with the organisation, as well as to the organisations purpose of preventing drowning and injury, thereby saving lives.
Specific New Zealand beaches are patrolled by qualified Surf Lifeguards from mid October until April each year. Red and Yellow flags indicate that a beach is patrolled by Surf Lifeguards. The area of water in between these flags is designated as the safest place to swim on the beach, as well as showing where Surf Lifeguards are patrolling. It is widely publicised to "swim between the flags" to be safe while swimming in the ocean.
Surf lifeguards are identifiable by their yellow shirts and red shorts. Surf Life Saving New Zealand is proudly sponsored by BP, DHL & State Insurance.
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[edit] History
In the early years of the 20th century, the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association (NZASA) controlled the brief amounts of life saving activity by providing resuscitation methods and demonstrations at swimming club carnivals. The next step occurred when the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) was formed and enforced with a conference off all head centres in 1912 called by Canterbury. The RLSS was established in Christchurch and remains there to this day.[2]
The first surf clubs began in the years 1909-1910 leading of with: Castlecliff (Wanganui), Lyall Bay (Wellington), New Brighton (Christchurch) and St Clair (Dunedin). Within the next few years other clubs started forming around five regions: Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne/Napier/New Plymouth and Wanganui.
Soon after the clubs were formed, rivalry began to take place which created the forming of competition between the clubs and regions. By early 1912 competitions were being organised by Wellington's Maranui Club, with male members competing in squads of 8. The competitions consisted of a land drill and 'reel test'. The first national champs where clubs were able to compete was held in 1922.
Surf lifesaving in New Zealand continues to grow in size and there are now around 73 affiliated surf clubs.
[edit] Organisational structure
Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the national association representing 73 Surf Life Saving Clubs in New Zealand. Around 15,000 people are members of SLSNZ.
SLSNZ has four regions: Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern, with staff outposted in these regions to support the clubs. There are also staff working on business development and the delivery of programmes and services in each region.
SLSNZ has a Governance Board of six people. The Board employs the Chief Executive and the CE delivers an annual management plan to support the Board's strategies that will see the organisation fulfill its purpose: "Preventing drowning and injury in New Zealand."
[edit] About surf lifesaving
In New Zealand, surf lifesaving is both a sport and a community service. To participate in either facet it is necessary to be a member of a club, and to have the ‘entry level’ qualification - the Surf Lifeguard Award, formerly the Bronze Medallion.
There are a range of other surf lifeguard and surf related qualifications available through the SLSNZ structure, including more advanced lifesaving certificates, Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) qualifications, VHF radio and first aid qualifications.
Volunteer lifeguards patrol beaches and work with the public to prevent people getting in trouble. In the summer of 2005 volunteers performed over 100,000 preventative actions during 155,000 hours of beach patrols.
Sport events are held at club, regional and national level, and in age categories Under 14, Under 19 and Open. Events span the range of rescue skills and test competitors’ strength, fitness and agility in swimming, running, paddling a surf ski, board or canoe or rowing a surf boat. Racing Inflatable Rescue Boats is an increasingly popular part of the sport.
[edit] Funding
SLSNZ's income is around $6 million a year derived from sponsorship, gaming machine grants and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, as well as from individual donations. The organisations total income (New Zealand Districts and Clubs) is approximately $13 million. SLSNZ does not charge a national membership levy, instead providing programmes and distributing over $2m each year.
In 2008, the first National Jandal Day was held. National Jandal Day is now an annual fundraising day for Surf Life Saving, held in December each year.
[edit] Surf Sport
The other key part of surf life saving is the competitive sport which evolved over the last 100 years it is predominantly made up by Swimming, Board and Surf Ski events in the water along with beach flags and sprints on the beach. Although IRBs and Boats attract large numbers of crews to many events.
Events in New Zealand are usually run from districts up to international events the major events, on the New Zealand surf life saving calender excluding inter national events are:
Senior events (U16,U19 and Open)
The Lion Foundation Surf League is a major surf lifesaving event that showcases the best ocean athletes in New Zealand going head to head for their Districts. Fighting it out for the glory at this, the glamour event on the annual Surf Life Saving calendar.
- NRC (Northern regional competition)
Is the largest of the four region competitions often contested weeks before the Lion Foundation Surf League
- State New Zealand Surf life Saving Nationals
The State National Surf Life Saving Championships is the pinnacle event of the season. From the Masters (over 30s) through to NZ representatives; surf boat crews to beach sprinters; these Championships see almost 1500 athletes compete over four days
Major junior events
- NPCs
The newly reformate interprovincial competition is the junior version of the Lion Foundation Surf League contested in the U14 and U16 age groups and is predominantly dominated by the Northern regions such as Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Gisborne and Taranaki.
- Ocean Athletes
An event which has grown into one of Surf Life Saving New Zealand's most successful surf sport events. With close to 1,000 athletes, it attracts the best surf sports athletes in the 10, 11, 12 and 13-year-old age groups.
[edit] Patrol Statistics
For the 2009/2010 Season, Surf Lifeguards attended the following incidents (as of 6 April 2010):[3]
Surf Life Saving New Zealand Totals
- Hours worked: 193,831
- Lives saved (rescues): 1,309
- First aid actions: 1,755
- Searches completed: 288
- Preventative actions: 93,050
- Safety interventions: 324,083
[edit] References
- ^ SLSNZ Website: The Organisational Structure
- ^ Jackson, Ivan (2006). Sand Between My Toes: the story of Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand. Penguin Books. ISBN 0143020625.
- ^ SLSNZ Website: Patrol Statistics
[edit] See also
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