Media release: September 19, 2012

________________________________________

Boaties to Benefit from New Coastguard Safety Push

A new education campaign to help push key boating safety messages out to Kiwis and generate funds for Coastguard has been launched.

In its latest annual report, Coastguard shows it rescued 6634 Kiwis in trouble on the water and brought home the 45 who had died to their loved ones.

The campaign will see Coastguard push the Boating Safety Code - five simple rules that can save lives on the water: take and wear life jackets, skipper responsibility, taking a VHF radio for waterproof communications, checking the marine weather forecast before heading out, and don't drink before going out or while on the water.

One of the sponsors of the education initiative Steve Doyle, managing director of Fishing Camping Outdoors (FCO) says his company wants to support the volunteer organisation and has launched its own Roundup Programme.

Coastguard's executive officer - brand and marketing Christine Haru, says funds from the new initiative will definitely help to save lives.

"It costs an average of $280 an hour to operate a rescue vessel, depending on its size. Many Kiwis don't realise that Coastguard is a charity - they just think we're like the police and totally funded by the government. We do have a service level agreement with the Government to provide key marine search and rescue services and for this we receive some funding, We also receive some funding through the Lottery Grants Board. However, for the rest of the funds to operate Coastguard we are entirely reliant on organisations like FCO for sponsorship dollars and the generosity of New Zealanders.

"Sadly forty-five people perished on the water in the last year, and while many factors contributed to this number, evidence would suggest that some of those deaths would have been preventable if people followed the five simple boating safety rules."

Doyle says that as New Zealand's biggest retailer of fishing, camping and outdoor gear, it is only right that the company helps out a worthy organisation like Coastguard and helps push the boating safety code to its customers.

"Even the most experienced boatie can run into problems while on the water, so it's important that everyone knows how to react in those tricky situations," says Doyle.

Our Roundup programme is about raising funds and also helping Coastguard promote basic boating safety messages".

The Roundup programme will be run through all 13 FCO stores - customers can choose to round-up or add-on to the cost of their purchase, with the extra money being donated to Coastguard.

FCO also plans to initiate a boating education program for its club members "

"Coastguard is a great organisation and many people are unaware of the great work they do for all Kiwis. FCO is proud to be partnering with this education initiative, says Doyle.

For more information about the Roundup programme see www.fco.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media