Whanganui's volunteer Coastguard Unit has joined the national membership programme, which it says will allow it to focus more on lifesaving work.
Previously, Coastguard Wanganui managed its own local membership programme, but with increased demands on volunteers, a spokesperson said the time was right to merge the local membership into the nationally-run programme.
Coastguard Wanganui is based at Castlecliff and helps vessels anywhere along the Whanganui River as well as responding to incidents off the coast.
Last year, the Whanganui unit rescued 65 people, and responded to 26 calls for help including mechanical failures and search and rescue operations.
Long-term local members' will continue to receive a discounted annual membership rate instead of the national membership fee of $115 annually, in recognition of their support of the Whanganui Coastguard Unit.