Coastguard New Zealand is the charity saving lives at sea. Our volunteer
rescue crews provide the primary maritime search and rescue service in New
Zealand.
Since the first Coastguard unit was formed in 1898, Coastguard has been
run by volunteers, and that remains the case today. We are hugely proud of
our volunteers - people from all communities and walks of life who
dedicate a huge amount of their free time to keeping their fellow New
Zealanders alive.
Coastguard volunteers spend many hundreds of thousands of hours on search
and rescue missions, radio operations, training or maintenance work each
year. They’re highly trained professional volunteers, so you can be safe
in the knowledge that when you call Coastguard for help, you’ll be in
expert hands.
Coastguard is a registered charity, and each year we need to raise roughly
70% of our income from individuals, corporate sponsors and trusts.
Coastguard operates a national membership scheme for boaties, regular
national lotteries, and a range of fundraising activities including a
monthly giving club and Coastguardians, a special group of supporters who
leave a gift in their Will to save lives at sea.