Funding Support Will Strengthen Frontline Volunteer Services

The work that some frontline volunteer service organisations in Southland do is quite literally life-saving.

What’s more incredible is that these services are often provided by local volunteers, who give their time and energy to help and support others in their community. In fact, if it weren’t for the work that these amazing organisations do, many of our communities would suffer, and visitors and locals would be less well off.

That’s why I’m delighted that frontline volunteer services in Southland will benefit from $20 million in Government funding to improve New Zealand’s response to emergency events.

The New Zealand Land Search and Rescue (LSAR) will receive $3.1m, Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) $2.3m, and Surf Life Saving New Zealand $14.6m.

This investment will fund training and equipment for these critical frontline services, ensuring our Southland volunteers are ready to respond when emergencies happen.

In Southland, the Oreti Surf Life Saving Club is the southernmost surf lifesaving club in the world, situated 10 minutes from Invercargill at Oreti Beach. Patrols occur every weekend in the afternoons, from the second-to-last weekend in November to the second-to-last weekend in March.

Land Search and Rescue Southland plays a critical role in providing specialist search and rescue services across this region. Coordinated through the local Police and the Rescue Coordination Centre, these unpaid professionals are ready to respond 24 hours a day.

Southland Amateur Radio Emergency Communications provides emergency communications support to the local Police and Civil Defence during search and rescue operations and Civil Defence emergencies. In the past year, demand for their services in Southland has grown by a huge 106 percent.

This Government funding will ensure that these critical organisations and their volunteers have what they need to continue saving lives and supporting communities when faced with emergency situations.