Latest news with #SurfLifeSavingNewZealand
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Gisborne finalists named for surf lifesaving Awards of Excellence
Surf Life Saving New Zealand has announced the finalists for the Gisborne/Tairāwhiti Awards of Excellence for the 2024-25 season. The awards recognise and celebrate the skill and commitment of surf lifeguards who make a meaningful contribution towards saving lives, developing great New Zealanders and keeping beachgoers safer. 'That mahi not
NZ Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Tauranga council debates $20k portaloo cost for Blake Park netball courts
The draft 2025/26 plan, which proposed an overall rates rise of 12%, received 968 written submissions and 70 people spoke at hearings this month. Mayor Mahé Drysdale said $20,000 for toilets for six months seemed 'expensive'. Council community services general manager Barbara Dempsey said the price was based on what the club paid in previous years. Because there was an accessible toilet, it was more expensive. Council spaces and places manager Alison Law said the cost also included servicing. Drysdale asked how much it cost to buy a toilet. Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular said she had asked a company that morning but was waiting to hear back. Drysdale said the council had a duty to provide toilets at reserves but netball brought in a 'huge number' of people and that meant more loos were needed. 'I'm just trying to understand whether that should be a council cost or a sport cost.' Dempsey said historically it was the council's responsibility to provide public toilets to support recreation facilities. The growth of netball had outstripped the amenities, and it was up to the council whether it wanted to fund the extra toilets, she said. Tauranga Netball's Annual Plan submission said there were 4000 attendees at Friday night college netball and 38 teams for junior netball on Saturday. It said the current six toilets were 'woefully inadequate' and the excessive demand resulted in 'unsanitary and unsafe conditions'. Councillor Glen Crowther said Tauranga Netball was asking because plans to move netball to Baypark had not happened, so the club was incurring unexpected costs. 'I do agree with the view that hopefully we'll get them cheaper, that might make this a less contentious issue.' Councillor Rick Curach said he was happy for the council to provide in-principle support for the funding, but he wanted the costs confirmed. Drsydale wanted to see if the council could 'get a deal'. Councillor Steve Morris said the council didn't want to flush money away. The council agreed in principle to give Tauranga Netball the funding, with a final decision to follow. On Tuesday, council staff provided a quote from one company for four standard portaloos and an accessible one at $42,000 for six months' hire and servicing. The cost of buying a standard portaloo was $1800 and servicing five loos for six months would be $3640. The council also voted on funding requests from several other community groups on Monday. They agreed in principle to give Mount Maunganui Cricket Club $73,300 for relocatable changing rooms at their Blake Park grounds. Surf Life Saving New Zealand would get $16,080 to extend its paid lifeguard services at Tay St beach for three weeks over summer. Drysdale said if one life was saved, that would be more than value-for-money for the council's investment. Councillors declined ARGOS Gym Sports $67,000 for new kitchen and cafe facility, and Bowls Matua would not receive $180,000 to upgrade its third green. The Annual Plan deliberations continue until Thursday.
Scoop
23-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Over A Decade Of Leadership Impact: Surf Life Saving Celebrates Record Cohort Of Emerging Leaders In bp Leaders For Life
Press Release – Surf Life Saving New Zealand bp Leaders for Life is SLSNZs premiere leadership development programme for current and emerging surf lifesaving leaders. It is run over 10 months, with five milestone workshops spread across the programme, each running for two to three days. 'Today is all about leadership: the kind that rolls up its sleeves, jumps into the surf, and makes waves both on and off the beach.' These were the words of Belinda Slement, National Education Manager at Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ), setting the tone for the latest cohort of graduates at their final session in the bp Leaders for Life programme at Papamoa beach this month. SLSNZ believes great leadership doesn't just happen, she stressed: it's developed, nurtured, and given the right environment to thrive. That is the fundamental premise for the bp Leaders for Life programme, which has been supporting emerging leaders within surf lifesaving for the past decade. bp Leaders for Life is SLSNZ's premiere leadership development programme for current and emerging surf lifesaving leaders. It is run over 10 months, with five milestone workshops spread across the programme, each running for two to three days. Designed to inspire and empower, it equips participants with vital leadership skills, enhances their understanding of governance and operations, and fosters lasting relationships across clubs and regions. Now in its 11th intake, the programme has seen 219 graduates to date, many of whom have gone on to take up senior leadership and governance roles across the Surf Life Saving movement. The impact of the programme extends far beyond individual development, contributing to stronger, more resilient clubs and more connected communities. For the 2024-2025 programme year, a record 18 emerging leaders, aged between 20 and 35, including one participant from Surf Life Saving Australia, have graduated from the programme. Among the group, female representation stands at a strong 50%, continuing the programme's commitment to inclusive, diverse leadership. The participants were selected from a record 77 applications. 'Leadership is about creating the environment for others to succeed,' says Belinda. ' bp Leaders for Life provides the platform for our members to gain the confidence, tools and experience to lead within their clubs and communities, and ultimately help shape the future of our organisation.' The cohort were supported by a team of dedicated mentors and facilitators, many of whom are past programme graduates themselves. Their guidance and shared experience play a key role in the programme's success. Claire Adams a participant hailing from Piha Surf Life Saving Club, found the opportunity for self-reflection to be particularly useful. 'Because it was spread out over nearly a year, at regular intervals we had space to meaningfully reflect on our progress between workshops. A big focus of the program was crafting a leadership development plan for the future, so it felt holistic in that we were refining our self-reflection skills, looking back, as well as looking forward and mapping out how we will achieve our leadership aspirations.' 'I came into surf lifesaving later than most and without any ties to a club, so it was also an amazing way to meet other guards, facilitators, guest speakers, SLSNZ staff and Board members. It helped me feel a stronger sense of connection to the surf community' she says. Aaron Coe of Nelson Surf Life Saving Club, a fourth-generation surf lifeguard originally hailing from Kariaotahi, says that the bp Leaders for Life programme helped to fine tune some of the leadership skills he'd been taught elsewhere. 'One of the biggest things was learning how to create safe environments for idea generation and leadership growth. So many strong ideas came out through our sessions, and through using newly taught techniques, we learnt how to define and develop them – which we will benefit all of us not just in surf, but also in our careers. It also gave me a deeper perspective of surf lifesaving as an entity, through meeting the Board members and understanding how its governance works,' he says. Aaron is also keen to apply some of his learnings at his club. 'It was important to understand how some of the other regions operate, and how they each define their limits and how to build capability beyond those limits. I'll be working through each of the pillars we learned during the programme and applying them at my club. It's about shared learnings, so understanding what other clubs are doing is critical to building our capabilities in Nelson,' he says. The programme's lead facilitator, Kate Suter of Sumner Surf Life Saving Club, believes that the programme has been going from strength to strength. 'In our current list of candidates, we have people in Club Captain roles, Club Committee and Board roles, instructing future generations, SLSNZ staff, SAR Coordinators, as well as active leaders in their own clubs. It highlights the strength of diversity in our organisational leadership, and the bright future our organisation has,' she says. SLSNZ Member Development & Engagement Officer, Poppy Crouch, says that the 2024-2025 programme has once again had a strong group of candidates. 'It's inspiring to see such a diverse cohort of passionate, driven individuals who are committed to developing their leadership skills and giving back to their clubs and communities. The energy and enthusiasm they bring to each session is a testament to the strength and future of our movement,' she says. The enduring success of bp Leaders for Life would not be possible without the generous support of programme sponsor bp, which has stood beside Surf Life Saving New Zealand since 1968. Haley Mahoney, Head of Country for bp New Zealand says that in addition to sponsoring the programme, bp is involved in its delivery, with bp team members often supporting workshops by participating on panels. 'bp takes great pride in championing our next generation of leaders within the surf lifesaving community,' she says. 'It is a remarkable initiative, fostering essential skills and experiences that not only enrich the lives of its participants but also reverberate positively within their clubs and local communities.' Notes: Participants: Ally Jones Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards Jess Mellsop Worser Bay SLSC Nikita Bublitz Lyall Bay SLSC Gabby Palmer Ocean Beach Kiwi SLSC Charlotte Toumadj Onemana SLSC Amelia Wood Whiritoa Lifeguard Service Grace Westenberg Whangamatā SLSC Briarna Higgs Tairua SLSC Duncan Bentley Pukehina Surf Rescue Eleanor Mulrennan United North Piha SLSC Claire Adams Piha SLSC Conor McDermott Red Beach SLSC Cory Harvey Raglan SLSC Kyran Gillespie Baylys Beach SLSC Per Tonascia Sumner SLSC Aaron Coe Nelson SLSC James Lilburne Waimairi SLSC Murphy Knowles Surf Life Saving Australia Mentors:
Scoop
23-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Over A Decade Of Leadership Impact: Surf Life Saving Celebrates Record Cohort Of Emerging Leaders In bp Leaders For Life
'Today is all about leadership: the kind that rolls up its sleeves, jumps into the surf, and makes waves both on and off the beach.' These were the words of Belinda Slement, National Education Manager at Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ), setting the tone for the latest cohort of graduates at their final session in the bp Leaders for Life programme at Papamoa beach this month. SLSNZ believes great leadership doesn't just happen, she stressed: it's developed, nurtured, and given the right environment to thrive. That is the fundamental premise for the bp Leaders for Life programme, which has been supporting emerging leaders within surf lifesaving for the past decade. bp Leaders for Life is SLSNZ's premiere leadership development programme for current and emerging surf lifesaving leaders. It is run over 10 months, with five milestone workshops spread across the programme, each running for two to three days. Designed to inspire and empower, it equips participants with vital leadership skills, enhances their understanding of governance and operations, and fosters lasting relationships across clubs and regions. Now in its 11th intake, the programme has seen 219 graduates to date, many of whom have gone on to take up senior leadership and governance roles across the Surf Life Saving movement. The impact of the programme extends far beyond individual development, contributing to stronger, more resilient clubs and more connected communities. For the 2024-2025 programme year, a record 18 emerging leaders, aged between 20 and 35, including one participant from Surf Life Saving Australia, have graduated from the programme. Among the group, female representation stands at a strong 50%, continuing the programme's commitment to inclusive, diverse leadership. The participants were selected from a record 77 applications. 'Leadership is about creating the environment for others to succeed,' says Belinda. ' bp Leaders for Life provides the platform for our members to gain the confidence, tools and experience to lead within their clubs and communities, and ultimately help shape the future of our organisation.' The cohort were supported by a team of dedicated mentors and facilitators, many of whom are past programme graduates themselves. Their guidance and shared experience play a key role in the programme's success. Claire Adams a participant hailing from Piha Surf Life Saving Club, found the opportunity for self-reflection to be particularly useful. 'Because it was spread out over nearly a year, at regular intervals we had space to meaningfully reflect on our progress between workshops. A big focus of the program was crafting a leadership development plan for the future, so it felt holistic in that we were refining our self-reflection skills, looking back, as well as looking forward and mapping out how we will achieve our leadership aspirations." 'I came into surf lifesaving later than most and without any ties to a club, so it was also an amazing way to meet other guards, facilitators, guest speakers, SLSNZ staff and Board members. It helped me feel a stronger sense of connection to the surf community' she says. Aaron Coe of Nelson Surf Life Saving Club, a fourth-generation surf lifeguard originally hailing from Kariaotahi, says that the bp Leaders for Life programme helped to fine tune some of the leadership skills he'd been taught elsewhere. 'One of the biggest things was learning how to create safe environments for idea generation and leadership growth. So many strong ideas came out through our sessions, and through using newly taught techniques, we learnt how to define and develop them – which we will benefit all of us not just in surf, but also in our careers. It also gave me a deeper perspective of surf lifesaving as an entity, through meeting the Board members and understanding how its governance works,' he says. Aaron is also keen to apply some of his learnings at his club. 'It was important to understand how some of the other regions operate, and how they each define their limits and how to build capability beyond those limits. I'll be working through each of the pillars we learned during the programme and applying them at my club. It's about shared learnings, so understanding what other clubs are doing is critical to building our capabilities in Nelson,' he says. The programme's lead facilitator, Kate Suter of Sumner Surf Life Saving Club, believes that the programme has been going from strength to strength. 'In our current list of candidates, we have people in Club Captain roles, Club Committee and Board roles, instructing future generations, SLSNZ staff, SAR Coordinators, as well as active leaders in their own clubs. It highlights the strength of diversity in our organisational leadership, and the bright future our organisation has,' she says. SLSNZ Member Development & Engagement Officer, Poppy Crouch, says that the 2024-2025 programme has once again had a strong group of candidates. 'It's inspiring to see such a diverse cohort of passionate, driven individuals who are committed to developing their leadership skills and giving back to their clubs and communities. The energy and enthusiasm they bring to each session is a testament to the strength and future of our movement,' she says. The enduring success of bp Leaders for Life would not be possible without the generous support of programme sponsor bp, which has stood beside Surf Life Saving New Zealand since 1968. Haley Mahoney, Head of Country for bp New Zealand says that in addition to sponsoring the programme, bp is involved in its delivery, with bp team members often supporting workshops by participating on panels. 'bp takes great pride in championing our next generation of leaders within the surf lifesaving community,' she says. 'It is a remarkable initiative, fostering essential skills and experiences that not only enrich the lives of its participants but also reverberate positively within their clubs and local communities.' Notes: Participants: Ally Jones Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards Jess Mellsop Worser Bay SLSC Nikita Bublitz Lyall Bay SLSC Gabby Palmer Ocean Beach Kiwi SLSC Charlotte Toumadj Onemana SLSC Amelia Wood Whiritoa Lifeguard Service Grace Westenberg Whangamatā SLSC Briarna Higgs Tairua SLSC Duncan Bentley Pukehina Surf Rescue Eleanor Mulrennan United North Piha SLSC Claire Adams Piha SLSC Conor McDermott Red Beach SLSC Cory Harvey Raglan SLSC Kyran Gillespie Baylys Beach SLSC Per Tonascia Sumner SLSC Aaron Coe Nelson SLSC James Lilburne Waimairi SLSC Murphy Knowles Surf Life Saving Australia Mentors: Ashleigh Hurring Fitzroy SLSC Nathan Berry Westshore SLSC Brianna Norris Whangamatā SLSC Ana Naden Waikanae SLSC Fergus Rieger Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service Kath Manning Waipu Cove SLSC Adam Parker Piha SLSC Nathan Snell Nelson SLSC Mike Litten Waimairi SLSC Jacob Davies Taylors Mistake SLSC
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Piha beach rescue: Off-duty lifeguards save drowning man from surf
Lamont said he was visiting his bach to do some work for the day when he became aware of the incident. 'I was just on a walk, so I'm not typically out here on a weekday.' He said, 'I saw a guy and his partner, and I saw the guy go for a swim while his partner was standing on the beach, and it wasn't a good place to swim. 'So I thought I'd just keep an eye on them.' Lamont said he realised the man was in serious trouble when he spotted his partner distressed on the beach. 'I checked again and I could see his partner running back and forward along the beach, which indicated that there was an issue. .. I couldn't see him swimming. 'She was very distressed while it was all going on,' he said. Lamont said he ran up to the surf club and grabbed some binoculars to try and see the man in the water. 'I managed to sight him, and he was obviously in trouble.' Lamont and Johns then launched an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) and rescued the 26-year-old patient, who was in critical condition. 'We got him back to the beach. He was vomiting, He was in a very serious condition,' Lamont said. An initial assessment was performed on the patient, who was losing consciousness, Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) said. They were then joined by members of the SAR Squad and first responders from Hato Hone St John to provide first aid to the patient, Piha Surf Life Saving Club said. Lifeguards and SAR handed over the patient to Westpac Rescue Helicopter at 11:15am, with the patient being transported to hospital. Lamont said there only appeared to be around six other people on the beach at the time, so the man was lucky to be spotted. Piha Surf Life Saving Club said they applaud Lamont's vigilance and quick thinking, and thank all those involved for their swift response. 'Without these volunteers, it likely would've been a very different outcome. 'Please be mindful of the dangerous conditions at Piha and if you see anyone in trouble call 111 to ask for police to activate our SAR Squad.' The Piha Surf Life Saving Club wrapped up its 2024-2025 patrolling season in April.
