It’s as Kiwi as Hokey Pokey ice cream and now the humble jandal is playing its part in keeping New Zealand lifeguards afloat this summer.

National Jandal Day on December 5 is a call to ‘feet’ in support of Surf Lifesaving New Zealand and Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey – a lifeguard at Karekare Beach for more than 50 year – is calling on the public to support the innovative fundraiser.

“Lifeguards do a fantastic job protecting our beaches and wearing jandals for a day is a fun way for people to show their support for this vital service,” he says.

National Jandal Day encourages people to wear their jandals and pledge a donation to support safer summers on New Zealand beaches.

More than 80 percent of New Zealanders claim to own a pair of jandals and more than 60 percent admit to having more than one pair.

Schools, workplaces and youth and community groups can also go online to register an event on the day and to become a collector. Alternatively people can contact their local surf club or in Auckland, the Surf Life Saving Northern Region main office.

Proceeds from the event will help local Surf Life Saving Clubs, like Karekare, Piha and Bethells, carry out their work over the summer. As well as patrolling beaches, clubs have to keep equipment maintained and run public education programmes.

The first National Jandal Day in 2007 raised $260,000 for Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

New Zealand has just over 15,000km of coastline and last year 1680 lives were saved by surf lifeguards.

ENDS

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