Coastguard – Be safe on the water this summer

We are now well into October and Labour Weekend is coming up quickly. It’s the time of year that we start to see the local boats and boaties come out of hibernation and get back on the water. As spring passes and we move towards the summer months, the team at the Coastguard Hibiscus and other coastguard units around the region know that they will become increasingly busy as summer activities ramp up.

As a Coastguard Unit, we don’t hibernate during the winter, our training has continued to ensure that everyone is ready for the busy period ahead. We take the opportunity to complete maintenance work to our rescue vessels and train our crews so that everything is ready to go when the call outs come. 

Coastguard is a charity that is powered by its volunteers. As well as providing a maritime search and rescue service, our volunteers also give their time to fundraise to ensure that we can keep our rescue vessels on the water. The Hibiscus Unit is starting to ramp up these fund-raising efforts as our rescue vessel may need replacing in a few years and a large part of funding a replacement boat will need to be met by the unit itself. In November we will be running our first charity golf day at Whangaparāoa Golf Club, the Coastguard summer lottery will commence later in the year, and we are always looking for new ways to raise funds. If you have any ideas or would be willing to help, our team would be happy to discuss them with you.

If you are planning to get your boat back on the water soon, now is the time to start getting things ready. Servicing engines, checking batteries, and fuel as it may have been sitting in the tank for quite some time. Ensure that you have all of the safety equipment you need: life jackets, flares, communication devices such as VHF Radios, locator beacons, and that everything is serviced and working. 

Coastguard has put together a great resource that provides safety advice and tips to ensure you have a great day out on the water, and to help make sure everyone gets home safely. We recommend checking this out so you have a safe and enjoyable time out on the water. Info: www.coastguard.nz/boating-essentials/safety-on-the-water