Join the Crew: Whitianga Coastguard Volunteers Make a Difference on the Water

Managed and crewed by a dedicated team of highly skilled volunteers, Whitianga Coastguard provides Search and Rescue services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Its area of responsibility stretches from Cape Colville in the north to Boat Harbour in the south, with the team also able to assist Tairua and Pauanui when required.

So far this year, Whitianga Coastguard volunteers have helped more than 175 men, women and children, contributing a combined 7,000 hours to keeping this professional lifesaving service based and operating in Whitianga. And the call-outs can be anything but predictable.

During a duty week, crew members may find themselves responding to an urgent medical evacuation, a boat taking on water or a vessel in trouble. They may also be called to assist someone whose boat has broken down or who has run out of fuel. While the situations vary, the purpose remains the same: to save lives at sea.

Become part of the Wet Crew 

Whitianga Coastguard always welcome new volunteers, and for those considering volunteering, you don't need to arrive with years of boating experience or already know everything there is to know about the sea.

After a thorough induction, new volunteers join a crew as Wet Crew and begin training towards their Deckhand Qualification. The training provides an opportunity to develop practical marine skills while learning alongside experienced volunteers.

The aim for the Whitianga based operation is to have four crews operating, allowing each volunteer — together with their family and employer — to commit to approximately one week of duty each month, along with ongoing training commitments.

Once a volunteer achieves their Deckhand Qualification, further experience and training can lead to the next level: becoming a Qualified Crew member. And, it’s a pathway that combines formal training with hands-on experience, teamwork and plenty of learning along the way.

Skills, Teamwork and Service to the Community

For Wet Crew Deckhand Yazmin Todd, joining Coastguard has provided all of that and more. “I am really glad I joined Coastguard as a volunteer, learning the ropes and being of service to the community. To acquire life skills, gain marine knowledge from experienced skippers and be out on the water helping others stay safe around the coastline we love… I am very grateful to be a part of a team.”

It’s clear that skills, experience and a strong sense of purpose and the benefits of volunteering extend well beyond the boat.

A Professional Volunteer Team Helping People Home

Qualified crew members develop practical skills including seamanship, boat handling, navigation, communication, first aid and leadership. Just as importantly, they learn how to operate effectively as part of a team when the pressure is on.

Senior Wet Crew Volunteer Darren Arthur has been volunteering with Coastguard for 20 years and says the experience has provided opportunities to develop skills that have proved valuable both on and off the water. “I have had opportunities to learn and develop seamanship, boat handling and navigation skills in a practical environment. I’ve gained skills and knowledge such as first aid and leadership which have been useful both on and off the water.” And, for Darren, there is also a strong sense of personal satisfaction that comes from being part of a professional volunteer team helping people who are having a bad day — and sometimes helping ensure they make it home to their loved ones.

Team Camaraderie and Trust 

That sense of camaraderie is a common theme among the crew.

CRV Master (Skipper) Graeme Thomas joined Whitianga Coastguard six years ago and says the relationships developed within the crew are a big part of the experience “There’s nothing quite like heading out on the water to help someone when things go wrong, but what keeps you coming back is the crew. You’re training together, building real trust, and pretty quickly it feels like family.” For Graeme, progressing to CRV Master was a significant personal milestone, made possible by the support and experience of those around him.

A Diverse Team from All Walks of Life

A diverse team with one common purpose One of the things that makes Coastguard special is that there is no single type of person who becomes a volunteer.

As CRV Master and Vice President Nigel Thomas explains, Coastguard volunteers come from all walks of life. “We are teachers, electricians, truck drivers, and more. We are a diverse team from all walks of life. We are a family.” Nigel says that people don't need to arrive with extensive marine knowledge to have something valuable to contribute. “Anyone can become a Coastguard volunteer, even if you don't know one end of a boat from the other. Everyone has something to offer and everyone makes a difference.”

And, it’s this combination of different skills, backgrounds and personalities that helps create a strong and capable team.

Making a Difference When it Matters the Most 

For Qualified Wet Crew Volunteer Richard Horne, volunteering with Coastguard is about being ready to make a difference when it matters most. As he puts it, “Be the reason someone gets home safely.” It is an opportunity to use your skills and courage while becoming part of a team that keeps local waters safe. “When the call comes, be ready to answer,” Richard says, encouraging others to “join the crew, make a difference and save lives.” For him, Coastguard is about real people, real teamwork and making a real difference — giving your time, gaining a crew and helping save a life. It is, as he describes it, “adventure with purpose” and a chance to become part of the crew that helps keep our waters safe.

The home of Whitianga Coastguard

Whitianga Coastguard's base in front of the Albert Street Marina is an important asset to the service and provides a dedicated home for its operations.

The facility houses the organisation's two rescue vessels, Te Morehu and Takareto, along with their tractors. A fully manned Radio Room operates from 8am to 4pm daily, with extended hours over the Christmas period, while the second floor features a well-equipped Search and Rescue and Training Room.

Behind the equipment, boats and facilities, however, it is the volunteers who make the service possible.

They are the people who give their time, undertake training, stand ready for the call and work together when someone on the water needs help.

Could you be part of the Whitianga Coastguard crew?

Volunteering with Whitianga Coastguard is a significant commitment, but for those who join, it can also be an opportunity to develop practical skills, gain valuable marine experience, meet a diverse group of people and become part of a close-knit team. Most importantly, volunteers have the opportunity to make a genuine difference in their own community.

If you have been thinking about volunteering, learning new skills or becoming more involved in your community, Whitianga Coastguard would love to hear from you.

For more information about becoming a Wet Crew volunteer, contact:

Bill Walkington (WCG Volunteer, Wet Crew Member & Committee Member) Phone: 027 435 4165  or email:  recruitment@whitiangacoastguard.co.nz

Your skills. Your courage. Your Coastguard.