Auckland Coastguard

26/09/2025

🚨✨ Flare Demo Training Night! ✨🚨

A few weeks ago, our volunteers had the opportunity to get hands-on training with a variety of marine flares, red handhelds and orange smokes, in a safe and controlled environment.

This type of practical training is invaluable for our crews, making sure they know exactly how these emergency signals work if they’re ever needed in real-life situations.

A reminder to everyone: distress flares should only ever be used in an emergency – setting them off for fun or practice outside of a controlled and approved training environment is both dangerous and illegal.

A huge thank you to OBC for hosting us – we really appreciate your support in helping us keep our training realistic and effective! 🙌

23/09/2025

Today we celebrate our in the annual Coastguard New Zealand Awards of Excellence.

We were finalists in 5 awards this year including two entries for Rescue of the Year, one of which saw one of our committed crews 100 nautical miles from base dealing with a missing diver, resulting in critical medical assistance, helicopter support, and managing the incident with no backup in a remote location. A truly heroic effort from our amazing volunteers!

We weren’t lucky enough to take the final awards home this year, but all our finalists are stand out winners in our view! Join us in celebrating them, and congratulating all our other Coastguard units celebrating their award success!

Auckland Coastguard are the Largest and Busiest Coastguard unit in New Zealand, committing nearly 17000 on-water volunteer hours last year, and bringing nearly 900 people home safe to their families.

Each year we get busier and we’re already 40% busier than last year to date - and our volunteers need more support than ever - if you can support us - we appreciate you!

https://aci.org.nz/donations

22/09/2025

Lion Foundation Rescue out of the water this week for its commercial survey - something that we have to maintain to operate all of our vessels.

Critical safety checks and inspections keep our safe and allow us to continue to serve our communities like we do.

Thanks to our supporters Half Moon Bay Marina and The Lion Foundation allowing us to keep Lion ship-shape and ready to respond. 🫡

02/09/2025

This evening (02/08/25), Auckland Coastguard volunteers will be conducting a flare training exercise from 6:45pm to 7:45pm at the Auckland Outboard Boating Club on Tamaki Drive.

Flares are an essential piece of safety equipment used at sea to signal distress and help rescuers locate you. They should only ever be set off in an emergency - using them at any other time is both dangerous and illegal, as it can trigger unnecessary search and rescue responses.

Tonight’s demonstration will be carried out safely in a controlled training environment to ensure our crews remain skilled and confident in using this vital equipment. 🌊

28/08/2025

Auckland Coastguard Inc. is thrilled to be a part of the Good in the Hood campaign for the second year running!

We’re dedicated to keeping our waters safe and supporting our community, and now we need YOUR help to make an even bigger impact.
Voting is open from August 26th to September 21st at Z Beach Road!

A big shoutout to Z Energy for supporting our cause and giving us this amazing opportunity to secure funds to keep doing what we do. Simply visit the store and cast your vote for us by dropping a token into our box.

Your support helps us keep Auckland’s waters safe and ensures we can respond quickly in emergencies so every vote counts.

Share this post and spread the word!



Thank you for your support!

24/07/2025

Today on World Drowning Prevention Day, we remember the 72 lives lost to preventable drowning in Aotearoa last year. Tragically, 90% of the craft-related drownings were not wearing a lifejacket.

Coastguard volunteers are often first on the scene, and we see firsthand how small actions - like putting on a lifejacket - make the biggest difference. Anyone can drown, but no one should.

💙She’s floating. You should too💙

Today on World Drowning Prevention Day, we remember the 72 lives lost to preventable drowning in Aotearoa last year. Tragically, 90% of the craft-related drownings were not wearing a lifejacket.

Coastguard volunteers are often first on the scene, and we see firsthand how small actions - like putting on a lifejacket - make the biggest difference. Anyone can drown, but no one should.

Join us and our mates at Drowning Prevention Auckland Aotearoa and Water Safety New Zealand in spreading the word: wear your lifejacket and float first.



📷 from our Little Skippers safer boating programme

13/07/2025

Service Time!

Early (and foggy) start to the week with Lion Foundation Rescue out for a couple of days for a service to her Hamilton Jet system.

Regular maintenance is critical to ensure our fleet is always ready to assist and with the support of The Lion Foundation, and Halfmoon Bay Marina we’re able to do so!

08/07/2025

❄️ Winter is here, but don’t let the cool weather cool your passion for boating!

Use this time to upskill your maritime knowledge and get ready to hit the water with confidence when spring rolls around. 🌊 From navigation skills to safety courses, there’s no better way to prepare for new adventures.

🌟 Invest in yourself and make spring boating the best yet!

01/07/2025

Join us on July 5th for a 1-day classroom course to take your Maritime Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Certificate. 📡

Learn essential radio communication skills on VHF and MF/HF (SSB) radios to stay safe and connected on the water. This course is your step towards better boating confidence and meeting legal radio requirements. 🌊

🗓️ When: 5th July

📍 Where: Auckland

🎯 Don’t wait—limited seats available!

🔗 Sign up now: https://www.boatingeducation.org.nz/courses/27/maritime-restricted-radiotelephone-operator-certificate/