Royal New Zealand Coastguard
Encyclopedia
The Royal New Zealand Coastguard is the civilian volunteer coast guard
of New Zealand
, the primary search and rescue
organisation for the nation's coastal waterways and major lakes. The New Zealand Police
coordinate smaller search and rescue incidents (Class II) in New Zealand, with assistance and resources from the coastguard as required; major maritime incidents (Class III) are coordinated by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), who may call on the resources of the New Zealand Defence Force
.
Government agencies including the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service
manage maritime law enforcement and border control
, with the Coastguard not having a role, unlike in a number of other countries.
Sea rescue services have existed in New Zealand since at least 1861, but it was not until 1976 that various local groups formed the national New Zealand Coastguard Federation. It was granted Royal Patronage
in 1990, and dropped "Federation" from the title in 2005.
grants, to cover expenses of $8.5 million a year. The service announced a per hour charge out rate to non-members in 2006, and made calls for government funding in 2007. The Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act 2008 passed into law in August 2008, requiring Auckland
councils to provide funding for amenities in the city, including the Coast Guard Northern Region. As of 2010 the annual membership fee is $95, while the hourly call out rate for non-members was $280, up from $225 in 2008.
The charity often faces issues with rescuees who refuse to pay the charges, sometimes for several call-outs in a row.
The national service is divided into four regions, comprising 68 affiliated local units. It has 75 dedicated rescue vessels, plus two fixed-wing aircraft. Vessels include: 9.5 m rigid-hulled inflatable boat
s, powered by twin 250 horsepower, four-stroke outboard engines and capable of over 45 knots, an 18.6 m
ex-Team New Zealand
tender, and a $1 million state-of-the-art 14 m jet-powered
catamaran. Units are based in cities and towns around the New Zealand coast, and at some lakes including Taupo
and Wakatipu
. The Auckland Marine Rescue Centre
is the control centre for the Northern Region.
Examples of some of the incidents attended are rescuing eighteen schoolgirls from Waitemata Harbour
after their competition rowing boats were swamped, pulling two fishermen out of the water in Hawke's Bay
after their small dinghy was adrift for nearly 24 hours, and getting a couple to safety after their yacht capsized in atrocious conditions in the Bay of Islands
.
The organisation runs education events, such as classes for female skippers, and two Hauraki Gulf
cruises highlighting popular anchorages and hazard awareness.
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the primary search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
organisation for the nation's coastal waterways and major lakes. The New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
coordinate smaller search and rescue incidents (Class II) in New Zealand, with assistance and resources from the coastguard as required; major maritime incidents (Class III) are coordinated by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), who may call on the resources of the New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
.
Government agencies including the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service
New Zealand Customs Service
The Customs Service is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is to provide border control and protect the community from potential risks arising from international trade and travel, as well as collecting duties and taxes on imports to the country. New Zealand's Minister of Customs...
manage maritime law enforcement and border control
Border control
Border controls are measures used by a country to monitor or regulate its borders.The control of the flow of many people, animals and goods across a border may be controlled by government Customs services. Security is enforced by various kinds of Border Guards and Coast Guards...
, with the Coastguard not having a role, unlike in a number of other countries.
Sea rescue services have existed in New Zealand since at least 1861, but it was not until 1976 that various local groups formed the national New Zealand Coastguard Federation. It was granted Royal Patronage
Royal patronage
Royal patronage may refer to*Royal patronage in arts, commerce, etc.*Patronato real*Padroado...
in 1990, and dropped "Federation" from the title in 2005.
Funding
The coastguard is a charitable organisation, relying on membership fees, fundraising, donations, and New Zealand Lottery Grants BoardNew Zealand Lottery Grants Board
The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board is a business unit of the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand.The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board is governed by the Gambling Act 2003. Its purpose is to benefit the community by distributing the profits from state lotteries run by the New Zealand...
grants, to cover expenses of $8.5 million a year. The service announced a per hour charge out rate to non-members in 2006, and made calls for government funding in 2007. The Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act 2008 passed into law in August 2008, requiring Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
councils to provide funding for amenities in the city, including the Coast Guard Northern Region. As of 2010 the annual membership fee is $95, while the hourly call out rate for non-members was $280, up from $225 in 2008.
The charity often faces issues with rescuees who refuse to pay the charges, sometimes for several call-outs in a row.
Organisation
Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy...
s, powered by twin 250 horsepower, four-stroke outboard engines and capable of over 45 knots, an 18.6 m
ex-Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand
Team New Zealand is a sailing team based in Auckland, New Zealand representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.Team New Zealand has become a household name in their home country following their consecutive wins in the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000...
tender, and a $1 million state-of-the-art 14 m jet-powered
Jetboat
A jetboat is a boat propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft. Unlike a powerboat or motorboat that uses a propeller in the water below or behind the boat, a jetboat draws the water from under the boat into a pump inside the boat, then expels it through a nozzle at the...
catamaran. Units are based in cities and towns around the New Zealand coast, and at some lakes including Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
and Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of Otago Region, near its boundary with Southland.With a length of , it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at , its third largest...
. The Auckland Marine Rescue Centre
Auckland Marine Rescue Centre
The Auckland Marine Rescue Centre is the control centre for the Coastguard Northern Region and Surf Lifesaving Northern Region, New Zealand . It also houses other marine services such as the Harbourmaster and the Maritime Police...
is the control centre for the Northern Region.
Services
The Royal New Zealand Coastguard volunteers all over New Zealand put in 270,000 hours in 2007, while the Northern Region staff as an example expects up to about 420 call-outs in January 2010, of which about half would be by non-members. At 47%, almost half of all call-outs were reported to be due to mechanical failures, often considered avoidable by better maintenance.Examples of some of the incidents attended are rescuing eighteen schoolgirls from Waitemata Harbour
Waitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
after their competition rowing boats were swamped, pulling two fishermen out of the water in Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
after their small dinghy was adrift for nearly 24 hours, and getting a couple to safety after their yacht capsized in atrocious conditions in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
.
The organisation runs education events, such as classes for female skippers, and two Hauraki Gulf
Hauraki Gulf
The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a total area of 4000 km², and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island...
cruises highlighting popular anchorages and hazard awareness.