Coastguard – A busy summer

The weather that was promised certainly delivered with light winds and sunny hot days, which meant that the Waitemata Harbour was boiling with activity over Christmas and New Year. Our Coastguard unit was kept extremely busy and we were on the water every day from December 26 through to January 14 – 20 days in a row! There are an average of four people on the boat over an average day of seven hours on the water. That is a total of more than 560 hours that our crew have given to our community to keep people safe on our waters, which I think are impressive stats.

Across the first six days of 2025, Coastguard Hibiscus attended 41 incidents and used over $10,000 worth of fuel. We have also been fundraising by attending events and selling Coastguard Lottery tickets. This is one of our main sources of funding to pay for training, fuel and equipment to keep our crew up to speed and, most importantly, safe. Add another 150 hours of off water activities on top and it shows we have an extremely dedicated crew of 46.

Recreational boating is a fun and relaxing activity, but safety should always come first. Here are some essential safety tips to ensure a safe boating experience:

• Ensure that everyone on board wears a properly fitted life jacket. Children and weak swimmers should always wear a life jacket, even when the boat is not moving. 

• Always check weather conditions before heading out. Be aware of changing conditions, such as dark clouds, sudden temperature drops, or strong winds, and return to shore if necessary.

• Carry life jackets for all passengers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, whistle or horn, anchor and rope, emergency flares or distress signals, at least two forms of communications, that is, vhf and cell phone.

• Learn and follow local boating regulations and right-of-way rules. Keep a safe speed and maintain a lookout for other boats, swimmers, and obstacles.

• Regularly inspect the engine, fuel system, electrical system, and hull for any issues. Check fuel and oil levels before departure.

Be Prepared for emergencies – know how to use a marine radio to call for help. Just a reminder channel 16 is for emergencies and channel 60/64 is coastguard. Trip reports and requests for assistance can be made directly to coastguard using those channels. The other option is calling *500 from your cell phone. Always inform someone on land about your trip plan, including your expected return time.

While we love what we do, ensuring that you are prepared can be the difference between coming home safe and sound or not.