Cash-strapped surf lifesavers to get 48 brand new vehicles

Thursday, 11 October 2018

With limited funds and the swim season approaching, surf lifesavers have landed a deal for 48 new cars.

The vehicles would be given out to clubs around New Zealand, paid for by a $1.14 million sponsorship deal with Toyota Financial Services and the Grassroots Trust.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Paul Dalton said finding funds each year was crucial - and each year the organisation had to start again.

'You have to go out with your begging bowl and see what you can get,' he said.

* Surf lifesaving boats or funerals?

* Surf lifesavers short on cash**

'We're in a competitive market with other charities out there all trying to do good things and we're all talking to the same people.'

Surf Living Saving New Zealand and the Surf Life Saving Northern Region would receive 15 vehicles, with 16 going to northern region clubs and Bay of Plenty clubs, and two to The Lifesavers Foundation.

The deal was worth more than $1.14 million over three years.

Earlier this year, Surf Life Saving Northern Region's chief executive Matt Williams called on the Government to treat surf clubs as fully-funded emergency services.

Dalton said there had been discussions with the Government about funding over the past couple of months that were positive, but continuing. 'It's early days yet.'