Beach patrols begin in November

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Summer is on its way and volunteer surf lifeguards will soon begin weekend patrols to keep beach-goers safe.

Tolaga Bay lifeguards will patrol Uawa beaches from November 1, Midway and Waikanae Beach patrols begin on November 14, while Wainui surf lifeguards will begin patrols a little later on December 5.

Wainui Surf Life Saving Club will start patrols at that date because November sees low beach user and strong sea breezes that tend to deter people from swimming there until December, says Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s Gisborne and East Coast club support manager Renee Wikaire.

All four clubs will end their volunteer, weekend beach patrols on March 13.

The start and finish date of Ngati Porou Surf Life Saving Club’s volunteer lifeguard patrols is yet to be confirmed.

More than 90 people, including eight preschool children, drowned in New Zealand last year. None of those deaths occurred at patrolled beaches.

Last month, water safety organisations developed a collaborative plan to address New Zealand’s high drowning toll.

It is time people realised the seriousness of the country’s drowning toll, says Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Paul Dalton.

“If people can change their ‘she’ll be right’ attitude towards surf safety, then we will be on our way to helping reduce drowning at our beaches.”

He cites people’s under-estimation of risk and over-estimation of their ability as part of that ‘she’ll be right’ attitude.