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Saving Lives at Sea on the Hibiscus Coast and Hauraki Gulf
Saving Lives at Sea

Coastguard Volunteer Recruitment

So you’re interested in becoming a Coastguard volunteer? Keen but not so sure if you have what it takes? Worried that you simply don’t have time for yet another commitment in your life?


First, let us dispel some myths. You needn’t be a salt-hardened old sea dog to join our unit; in fact, no prior boating experience is required. Live on the Coast but work in the city? No problem. The volunteers that make up Coastguard Hibiscus, men and women of all ages, from teenagers to retired folk, all have normal lives and commitments of their own, be it work, family, or gardens to dig. The very reason we have an ongoing recruitment programme is to keep the load manageable and feasible for all our crew members given the other, important things people have in their lives.

What attributes are we looking for in potential new recruits? If you meet the following criteria, you’re exactly the sort of person we’d love to hear from:

  • Physically fit
  • A team player
  • Willing to learn new skills
  • A good communicator
  • Willing to commit to a regular roster for training, both on land and in our vessels

Marine Search and Rescue is no laughing matter; when called on to be part of a team executing our mission of saving lives at sea, we need to know that you are fully prepared, well trained and committed to the cause. For this reason, volunteering for Coastguard is a two-way street, with first-class training given to those who take the plunge, not to mention the really cool toys we get to play with. It is this added personal value and the experiences of saving lives and helping people in need of assistance that keep our volunteers coming back for more. As a Coastguard volunteer you will receive training on:

  • First aid
  • VHF operation
  • Radar and GPS operation
  • Boat handling in all weathers
  • Inboard and Outboard maintenance
  • Emergency repairs
  • Towing and barging techniques
  • Recovering a victim or person overboard
  • Search patterns and SAR communications
  • Seamanship
  • Working with aircraft

Still interested? If all this appeals to you and you’d like to take the first steps towards becoming a volunteer for Hibiscus Coastguard, please complete the form here by clicking this link, to express your interest in becoming a Coastguard volunteer.