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The Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service is celebrating major progress both on and off the beach, with building repairs advancing, volunteer patrols underway and strong community support at its recent annual golf fundraiser.
The club recently secured $140,000 from Surf Life Saving New Zealand to assist with repairs to its cyclone-damaged clubhouse. Work has been progressing steadily, with consent delays around accessibility and parking now resolved.
“Building consent has been approved, and we’re still pushing to be back in the building by Christmas,” a club spokesperson confirmed.
In the meantime, operations continue using two storage containers on-site to house essential equipment.
Patrol season starts
The summer volunteer patrol season started over Labour Weekend, with lifeguards now on duty at Mangawhai Heads every weekend and public holiday through to Easter.
The beach has been relatively calm early in the season, with very few incidents recorded. However, the Mangawhai Search & Rescue (SAR) team has responded to two recent after-hours callouts, including assisting an injured fisherman involved in a bar crossing incident.
With the bar currently “very shallow,” the club is urging boaties to stay vigilant.
“As we head into summer, the swell increases. Boaties must check conditions before heading out. If in doubt, don’t go out.”
A total of 67 qualified lifeguards, aged from 14 to 65, will patrol the beach this year. The final lifeguard training session this year is scheduled for December 7.
Juniors thriving
Mangawhai’s popular junior surf programme is also in full swing, with nearly 150 children enrolled this season.
The beach is packed each Sunday morning from 9am to 11am as nippers learn surf skills, confidence and prepare for surf sports competitions.
Some groups are at capacity, but families interested in joining can email admin@mangawhaisurfclub.org.nz for updated availability.
Junior Surf will also be out in force for the Mangawhai Santa Parade on December 14, with training resuming on January 11. The Northland Head2Head carnival is scheduled for January 10.
Golfers raise over $15,000
The surf club is also celebrating the success of its annual Ambrose Golf Tournament, held on Sunday November 9, which brought 180 players to the course. The Mangawhai Golf Club clubhouse was “buzzing,” with MC Don Baxter keeping the crowd entertained. Junior club captain Saoirse Hurley-Brown shared her journey from junior surf participant to qualified lifeguard, before Scott Henderson of New World Mangawhai announced the tournament results.
Winners: Mangawhai Plumbing 1, Waifs and Strays 2, John Seward’s team 3, and Jack Boyd W’s team 4. The fundraiser generated over $15,000 (final total pending), and the club extended special thanks to Scott and Rachael Henderson, of New World Mangawhai, for once again stepping up as main sponsors.
