MEDIA RELEASE
03 September, 2012

Volunteers Recognised for Long Service to Coastguard

Eight volunteers from Taranaki have received long service awards in recognition of their service to Coastguard Taranaki Air Patrol.

All volunteers received chevron lapel badges at the Coastguard Taranaki Annual General Meeting on Monday evening. Four of the recipients have dedicated themselves to Coastguard for over 15 years.

Colin Small, President of Coastguard New Zealand, says, “These volunteers are an outstanding example of those who have a dedicated passion to the organisation and presenting them with these awards on Monday was a way in which we were able to show our recognition of their efforts.

“The entire community benefits from the work of our volunteers and Coastguard is extremely grateful to all those who donate their time.”

The awards form part of Coastguard’s ‘People First Strategy’, an ongoing commitment by the organisation to the recognition of the many New Zealanders who donate their time and energy to saving lives at sea.

Coastguard is a maritime rescue service made up of professionally trained volunteers who put themselves in harms way on a regular basis to ensure the safety of the wider community at sea. Earlier this year, Coastguard celebrated a record number of volunteer hours (363,108) contributed by its 2,398 volunteers.

“We look forward to presenting many more long service awards in the years to come. Our community promise is saving lives at sea and this can only be achieved with the help of our Coastguard volunteers and the local community support they receive,” says Mr Small.

ENDS

About Coastguard New Zealand:

Coastguard is the charity that provides New Zealand’s primary maritime search and rescue service. The organisation operates from a network of four regions and 71 affiliated Units, located around the coastline and major lakes of New Zealand. Coastguard New Zealand is a volunteer organisation with a charitable status. It has more than 18,000 supporter members and 2,398 active Professional Volunteers who provide more than 360,000 hours of their time each year to educate, protect and help save lives at sea. Coastguard perform over 3,300 rescues each year assisting over 6,600 New Zealanders. There are currently 79 dedicated rescue vessels in Coastguard New Zealand’s fleet, 10 air patrol units with 2 fixed wing aircraft and 1 dedicated Communications unit. All crew members on board Coastguard vessels and air patrol craft are trained search and rescue personnel working to enhance the safety of all New Zealanders when they participate in boating and water activities.

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