Supporting our regional rescue services

We’re proud supporters of six life-saving organisations in the northern region, thanks to funding collected through our regional rescue services rate.

About the regional rescue services rate

Ratepayers contribute $11.30 (including GST) each annually, creating a funding pool to support organisations whose primary purpose is to save lives that are in immediate or critical danger, or to respond to serious injury.

In June 2024, as part of their Long Term Plan 2024-2034, council confirmed continuation of the rate to fund rescue services across Northland. The total amount of the fund was retained and the process was changed slightly to make the individual amounts of funding contestable between the six existing recipients.

The emergency services that will be funded over the next three-year period to 2027 are:

• Northland’s Emergency Services Trust - $420,000 per year (3-year funding amount: $1,260,000)
• Surf Life Saving Northern Region - $295,000 per year (3-year funding amount: $885,000)
• Coastguard Northern Region - $180,000 per year (3-year funding amount: $540,000)
• Northland & Far North Search and Rescue - $30,600 per year (3-year funding amount: $91,800)
• Far North Radio and Sea Rescue - $11,000 per year (3-year funding amount: $33,000)

Rescue helicopter

Our long-standing relationship with Northland’s rescue helicopter operator, Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST), stretches back to 2009.

Over this time, ratepayers have contributed nearly $10M towards operational funding of this critical service that provides a dedicated rescue helicopter service for the people of Northland.

Find out more about this important service on NEST’s website:
www.nest.org.nz

Surf Lifesaving

We’ve been supporting Surf Lifesaving Northern Region since 2015, helping to keep paid lifeguards on our beaches over summer.

With people flocking to Northland’s incredible coast during summer, we’re proud to support the lifeguards keeping people safe on some of our most popular beaches.

See where and when Northland's lifeguards will be on duty

Find out more about Surf Lifesaving Northern Region: www.lifesaving.org.nz

Coastguard

Coastguard is the charity saving lives at sea. With more coastline than any other region and such a big boating community, Northland needs this critical service and we’re proud to be supporting it.

Coastguard are also big on boating education, helping boaties everywhere get home safely to their whānau.

Find out more about Coastguard and boating education:
www.coastguard.nz

Far North Radio and Sea Rescue

Far North Radio and Sea Rescue is a private marine coast watch station, that has been providing a vital community service to commercial and recreational boaties for over 76 years. All radio operators and rescue vessel crew are volunteers.

Find out more about Far North Radio and Sea Rescue:
www.facebook.com/Farnorthradio

For contact information visit:
www.cab.org.nz/community-directory

Northland & Far North Search and Rescue

Northland and Far North Search and Rescue are both not for profit, volunteer-based groups that provide search and rescue services across Northland.

Their 70+ volunteer members search for lost, missing, or injured people in bush or urban environments. As well as undertaking evidence searches for Police or coastal sweeps following maritime accidents.

Northland Search and Rescue also provides specialist cliff-face rescue and cave rescue teams across Northland.

Find out more about Far North Search and Rescue:
www.facebook.com/fnsar.org.nz

Find out more about Northland Search and Rescue:
www.facebook.com/landsarnorthland