RE: OPEN LETTER – SURF LIFE SAVING KARIAOTAHI NEEDS SUPPORT
To whom it may concern,
Surf Life Saving Kariaotahi Incorporated (SLSK) is a member club of Surf Life Saving Northern Region & Surf Life Saving New Zealand, a 100% volunteer organisation that provides surf lifesaving patrols and 24/7 call out response at Karioitahi Beach. As a club we see operations cover a stretch of 35 kilometres of coastline, from the Manukau Bar in the North, to the notorious Waikato River Mouth in the South and also provide support to other clubs across the Northern Region.
We support and deliver Junior Surf and Beach Education programs to the youth of southern Auckland throughout each summer which are essential educational safety programs for young people who enjoy the coastline around New Zealand.
All operational and club program delivery, planning and administration of the club is undertaken 100% by volunteer members from the community.
As a west coast surf beach, although beautiful, Karioitahi beach can be deceivingly dangerous. The constantly changing landscape and beach conditions can prove fatal for those who become troubled in these waters. There is also a high level of risk for drowning and injury at Karioitahi Beach with the beach holding a hazard rating of 7 on a 10 point scale proving Karioitahi Beach is one of the most hazardous coastlines in New Zealand.
SLSK was established in 1969 and since 1975 the club has operated out of its current building.
SLSK are now facing their biggest crisis in its entire 54 year history, and the consequences of this crisis will see lives lost. Our current building is severely damaged and extremely close to becoming uninhabitable. Without a home base & facility to operate from, lifeguards are unable to patrol & respond to the beach and those entering the water will be at the peril of the beach & conditions. Junior Surf & Beach Education programs will not be able to be run, loosing valuable educational opportunities to our community’s youth.
SLSK has a building replacement program well underway, with building plans completed, Resource and Building Consents achieved, and significant funds already raised, however we are still short of funding with the finish line so near in sight.
We have not been sitting idle when it comes to funding this project, alongside all the ‘usual’ work we undertake SLSK has raised $5.4M through various channels, however we remain $1.5M short and are struggling to make further progress towards to final target.
The replacement building would provide a secure facility to store our rescue ready equipment plus First Aid Room for patient treatment, training room for the ongoing development of our members in lifesaving, first aid and leadership programs and host the delivery of Junior Surf and Beach Education programs to youth.
Without a facility we will be severely hamstrung in the delivery essential education, safety and rescue services to the community on Karioitahi Beach, they will likely cease.
This of course is not at all what we want for ourselves as a club and our wider community of beach users, but it’s the cold reality of what we are facing without further support.
We are seeking your help to raise the remaining necessary funding as soon as possible. If we are not able to raise the final amount soon, we risk losing existing funding for the new build as commitments expire.
For more information and/or media enquiries, please feel free to reach out to us.
