KEY POINTS:
Coastguard New Zealand has expressed disgust its bid to secure funding in this year's budget has been ignored by the Government, saying the decision will lead to an increase in drownings.
Coastguard does not receive any government funding, relying on volunteers to provide the crews and raise funds for fuel, training, and the other costs associated with buying search and rescue vessels.
Its chief executive Kevin Rangi said a "comprehensive, cohesive and justifiable" budget bid had been prepared.
The bid, compiled by Coastguard, Search and Rescue Officials and other SAR stakeholders, was motivated by the identification of "substantial and significant risks" within their system.
News that it would not receive any Government support had "put paid to the years of work invested into the country's long overdue revamp of Search and Rescue services", he said.
"This is yet another indication of the Government's unwillingness to address real issues confronting real New Zealanders."
Mr Rangi said New Zealand was a maritime nation, demonstrated by the fact that more than one in every three people took part in recreational boating every year.
"For the Government to continue to expect volunteers to fund the costs of providing and maintaining rescue boats and equipment, and their training is outrageous.
"This is a gross dereliction of duty, which will result in New Zealanders drowning."
Mr Rangi said Coastguard volunteers had made an "exceptional contribution" to the safety of New Zealand's marine communities.
"It is repugnant that the Government has not recognised the commitment and dedication made by this group of people.
"They do much more than simply crew rescue boats in appalling conditions to save those who have the misfortune of needing assistance when at sea."
Mr Rangi said with the increasingly sophisticated technology available today, recreational boaties felt more confident about venturing further than they may have done even 10 years ago.
"For our crews to be able to assist these mariners when they get into trouble, they require appropriate vessels and the equipment and technology that will enable a quick and successful resolution to any potential disaster."
It was beyond the average local community to fund replacements for the aging Coastguard fleet, he said.
"Coastguard is the Fire Service and the Ambulance on the water.
"It is not therefore unrealistic to expect that this sector of the community is supported in the same way that our Fire Service and Ambulance are on land. On the water it is impossible to just get out and walk!"
Meanwhile Women's Refuge has also expressed outrage at the Government's failure to provide increased funding in the budget.
The National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges said it had been ignored at a time "when the demand is at its greatest".
"We are devastated there was nothing in the budget bid for Refuge, especially after all the work that we have done in conjunction with Child Youth and Family and other agencies of the Ministry of Social Development," spokeswoman Heather Henare said.
"We feel that we have been used and abused and I guess that is reflective of the work we do. We shouldn't be surprised, but we are."
- NZPA
