Sun, sand and surf are words that we happily associate with summer. New Zealand is blessed with beautiful beaches but shamefully also has one of the highest drowning rates (2.7) per capita in the OECD, approximately twice that of Australia. With Māori over represented in drowning statistics, an understanding of water safety goes hand in hand with our enjoyment of the water, a challenge that’s being met by the seaside community of Tolaga Bay.

Operating under the umbrella of the Surf Life Saving New Zealand national body, Ūawa Tiaki Tai – Tolaga Bay Surf Life Saving Club is made up of dedicated members of the Tolaga Bay and surrounding communities. They see the club as an asset for the area, not solely for the lifesaving service but also as a focus for building the sense of community and a holistic approach to respecting the environment.

Club Treasurer Kelly Blackman says the club has had to think outside the square to recruit and build membership. “For some people surf life saving seems too “mainstream” but this is a club that belongs to the people, that’s why we’ve changed it to fit”.

Kelly says they have focused on making the club relevant to their community, and they’ve started offering programmes that everyone can relate to.

“Being able to read the many faces of Tangaroa, such has how to identify a rip, are skills that can save lives. We want people to be able to enjoy the water safely. We’ve introduced stand-up paddle boards that have been really popular with the rangatahi and we have a nipper programme for little kids that draws parents along too.”

Kelly says she “married” into the surf club, her husband Kerehama has been involved with the club since he was a kid and is now the chairman. He was recruited into the club by club stalwart Ray Dever who was the local policeman at the time and ran the club. In 2005 it was time for some fresh energy and with fellow watermen Regan Fairlie and Peter Boyd and NZSL Club Development Officer Jeremy Lockwood, Kerehama set about reviving the club.

Te Puni Kōkiri supported the club to implement a five year strategic plan and implement a club calendar of summer water activities for tamariki and whanau. Mere Pohatu, the Te Tairāwhiti Regional Director, said the club’s commitment to making water safety a priority in the region is inspiring. “They have reached out to the community by trying new approaches and by getting out there. An example is the paddle boards they are using that appeal to the rangatahi who are already doing waka ama, so it’s a natural progression.”

Working alongside the local fire service, police, civil defence and coastguard, the club is focussed on raising the numbers of qualified life guards and growing skills and expertise. The club also has the infrastructure in place now to build capacity so that it can focus on being a key component in the local rescue services.

Working alongside whānau, hapū, iwi, local kōhanga reo, schools, Te Aitanga a Hauiti Hauora, businesses and other community groups Ūawa Tiaki Tai – Tolaga Bay Surf Life Saving Club is an integrated model that could potentially be used by other coastal rural communities. Kelly says “We’ve created a model to make it fit with our own community needs. The people here aren’t interested in wearing speedos but they are interested in protecting their local resources and surviving in the water. We’d be happy to share our experiences to help other coastal rural communities build their surf life saving capacity.

Bringing down the drowning statistics is a priority.”

Facebook: Ūawa-Tiaki-Tai