Lack of cash puts lifeguard patrols at risk

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Lifeguards' patrols are being put at risk because of a lack of funds.

The Christmas Day drowning of 11-year-old Sally Frenswa at North Piha highlighted the danger of overtaxed lifeguard services, said United North Piha Lifeguard Service president Gareth Neilson.

"All lifeguards patrolling that area were already committed to carrying out other rescues," he said.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand business manager John O'Connell said lifeguards were under enormous pressure.

"We can't meet the public's needs on the beaches," he said.

And this could be directly attributed to a lack of funds.

The president of Surf Life Saving NZ northern region, Tim Jago, said funding for the region needed to be doubled to $500,000 to provide adequate services.

He said there were fewer guards than seven years ago, but crowds at beaches had increased.

"In 1994 we had 54 lifeguards across the region," he said. "In 2002 we are running with 45 and asking them to work longer hours.

"We can't pay them well. It's an appalling rate of pay. It starts at about $9.60, with the most senior guards getting $12.50."

The pay rate did not reflect the stress the lifeguards were placed under, especially when they had to put their lives at risk, he said.

Surf Life Saving NZ receives its funding from lottery grants, which have dropped by $135,000 in the past year, and from local authorities.

Mr Jago said that in the northern region local authorities were asked to contribute money on a per-capita basis. But there was no statutory requirement for them to do so, and some contributed much less than was requested.

The biggest contributor in the northern region is the Auckland City Council, which gives $75,873 - the full amount requested.

Many other councils, such as Rodney and Papakura, also give the full amount.

But some, including Manukau, give considerably less.

Mr Jago said he would like to see legislation that made safety on beaches the responsibility of local authorities, so they would have to provide adequate funding.

Mr O'Connell said adequate funding would allow Surf Life Saving NZ to make long-term plans, and ultimately lives would be saved.