Surf Lifesaving Clubs in New Zealand
A DigitalNZ Story by squiggle_top
In 2011, Surf Lifesaving New Zealand celebrated its centenary. This DigitalNZ story shares some early history and photos of events and clubs.
Surf lifesaving, surf life saving, swimming, beach, surf club, surf bathing
Surf lifesaving clubs
Surf lifesaving clubs have been a part of New Zealand's coastal communities for over 100 years, with newspaper reports of clubs being established from 1911.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand celebrates 100 years. 2011.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand says lifeguards have saved 50,000 people from drowning over the past 100 years.
Radio New Zealand
Guardians of the surf. Lyall Bay. 1931
Auckland Libraries
Surf Life Saving Clubs has a specific beach focus, which was different from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Royal Life-saving Society. 1909.
National Library of New Zealand
Surf bathing grows in popularity
With reports of increasing popularity in Australia, there was concern that beaches in New Zealand weren't yet prepared for the increase in popularity locally.
However, turnout to initial meetings about forming surf clubs proved popular and demonstrated a willingness from communities to create new clubs, fundraise, put on surf lifesaving demonstrations and to establish pavilions and clubrooms.
Surf bathing popular in Sydney, could it take hold in Lyall Bay?
Article details the "chief pastime" of the people of Sydney (Australia), with information about plans for Lyall Bay.
National Library of New Zealand
But this new "pastime" was not without its detractors, especially as bathing at some beaches was time restricted and was part of a public health measure, and beach bathing was not yet considered a pastime or sport.
Report about the "indecency" of bathing at St Clair Beach. 1910.
Bathing at the beach was allowed between 5am and 7.30am, to accommodate those without bathing facilities at home.
National Library of New Zealand
Surf Life-saving Clubs become established around New Zealand
Although surf life-saving clubs had already been in place in Australia for a number of years, the popularity of surf bathing in New Zealand was increasing by 1910/1911. So with more people visiting and swimming at beaches, aka surf-bathing, surf-life saving clubs began to form in many coastal areas.
The value of surf life-saving clubs demonstrated in Australia. 1907.
Details about a rescue undertaken at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.
National Library of New Zealand
Castle Cliff Surf Club building plans underway. 1911.
The community pitches in for this building project, donating resources and volunteering labour.
National Library of New Zealand
Castlecliff Surf Club Sports Day. 1911.
Events included: Alarm and Reel Races, Dusting the Pole, Greasy Pole, Relay Race, Tug-of-War.
National Library of New Zealand
Formation of the Greymouth Surf-Bathing Club. 1911.
Requested a copy of the club rules from the St Clair Surf-Bathing Club in Dunedin.
National Library of New Zealand
Enthusastic members establish Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club. 1911.
96 members were enrolled in the club by the end of the meeting
National Library of New Zealand
First General meeting of Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club. 1911.
Records showed 145 members registered, including 42 women, although the lack of youth enrolments was noted.
National Library of New Zealand
Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club meeting. 1911.
Reconsideration of the club rules and plans for an opening day.
National Library of New Zealand
Opening of 1911 Maranui Surf Club season
National Library of New Zealand
Public demonstration of life-saving techniques in Dunedin. 1911.
National Library of New Zealand
Rise in membership at Dunedin club. 1911.
Starting with only 4 members last season, there was now 450 members, including 200 women.
National Library of New Zealand
One of the "most up-to-date surf bathing pavillions in Australasia". 1914.
National Library of New Zealand
New clubs formed - Paraparaumu Beach and Titahi Bay. 1938.
National Library of New Zealand
Prime Minister attends Surf Gala at Lyall Bay. 1943.
National Library of New Zealand
Scenes from Life-saving Clubs around the country
Life Saving Team at Taylor's Mistake. 1930s.
Christchurch City Libraries
New Zealand Championships, Lyall Bay, Wellington. 1937.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Season opening. 1940.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Members of Piha Surf Lifesaving Club and paddle boards. 1950s.
New Zealand Maritime Museum
On parade during a surf lifesaving competition at Piha. 1950.
Auckland Libraries
Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club. 1961
Tauranga City Libraries
Surf club oarsmen, Titahi Bay. 1965.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wellington Surf Life Saving Championships. 1985.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Clubrooms
Clubrooms are an important part of the surf-living clubs across the country, for meetings, sheltering out of the weather (sun or rain!), storing gear, training sessions, fundraising events. Some examples of contemporary club rooms at Christchurch beaches.
New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club
Christchurch City Libraries
North Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Christchurch City Libraries
Waimairi Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Christchurch City Libraries
Taylors Mistake surf lifesaving club building, 2019
Auckland Libraries
Demonstrations, Competitions and Beach Carnivals
As well as training surf lifesavers and patrolling beaches, clubs held regular public demonstrations and competed in local, regional, national and international surf lifesaving events.
Life saving demonstrations at Lyall Bay. 1912.
Auckland Libraries
Lifesaving competition at Island Bay. 1930s.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Surf-lifesaving championships at Dunedin. 1936.
Auckland Libraries
Taranaki surf life-saving championships. 1937.
Auckland Libraries
Competitors at New Zealand Championships, Lyall Bay, Wellington. 1937.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Waikanae Beach demonstration, including Whakatane, Opotiki and Gisborne teams. 1937.
Auckland Libraries
New Zealand surf life-saving championships at Lyall Bay. 1940.
National Library of New Zealand
Australia vs. New Zealand lifesaving competition at Titahi Bay. 1950.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Programme - New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships. 1954.
Massey University
Competitors at Surf Life Saving Club Championships, Titahi Bay, Wellington. 1960.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Gisborne and East Coast Surf and Life-Saving Association championships. 1961.
Gisborne Photo News
Surf Life Saving National Championships, Titahi Bay. 1968.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Wellington Surf Life Saving Championships, Paekakariki. 1976.
Alexander Turnbull Library
National IRB Championships. 2023.
120 crews from 30 surf life saving clubs head to Waihi Beach for the IRB championships, including a team from Australia.
Radio New Zealand
additional resources
-
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand - what we do. [accessed 03 October 2023]
- SLSNZ is the national association representing 74 surf lifesaving clubs with 18,000+ members, including more than 4,500 volunteer Surf Lifeguards.
- Surf Lifesaving New Zealand - history [accessed 03 October 2023]
- History of specific clubs around New Zealand are shown in the Surf Lifesaving New Zealand resource library [accessed 05 October 2023]
- Examples of surf life-saving clubs (SLSC) around the country [websites accessed 06 October 2023]
- Surf Lifesaving NZ history: The guardians of the beaches. Amelia Wade. 04 January 2020. NZ Herald article. [accessed 06 October 2023]
- Lifesaving and surfing. Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 12 Jun 2006. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. [accessed 6 October 2023]
Te Ara entry about Surf Lifesaving
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage