Coastguard prepares for Mangawhai launch

A coastguard service based in Mangawhai could be a reality by Labour Weekend. Coastguard NZs northern regional manager Jonny Bannister says the service will run as a trial until April next year when it will be assessed to see if it is sustainable – financially and personnel-wise. “I feel confident Mangawhai will be able to meet the criteria, but to succeed it will very much need to be led by the community,” Bannister says. NZ Search and Rescue service first identified Mangawhai as one of the country’s four search and rescue priority areas three years ago. The government came to the party with ...