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As daylight saving starts this weekend - heralding fast approaching summer - Surf Life Saving New Zealand and BP are marking a 40-year relationship.
Believed to be among the longest sponsorships in New Zealand, BP stepped in during 1968 to help replace a surf boat damaged during the rescue of passengers from the sinking Wahine in Cook Strait.
The sponsorship has helped the organisation develop into a highly effective operation, with 208 inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) and more than 22,000 IRB rescues performed in the past 30 years, says SLSNZ chief executive, Geoff Barry.
"Without IRBs, we could not do our job. The long-term relationship enables us to save hundreds of lives each summer."
About 15,000 volunteers are members of the nationwide organisation. Last summer, they performed more than 100,000 preventative actions during 175,000 hours of beach patrols.
The sponsorship is an ongoing commitment, says BP spokeswoman Diana Stretch. "We think our money is giving people the tools they need."
