Volunteering for Coastguard is a team effort – requiring just as much precision and effort off the water as it does in the midst of a rescue in the middle of the Canterbury Coast. Whether you’re an ace administrator, handy with a toolkit, a fantastic fundraiser, a brilliant bookkeeper or an accurate accountant, there’s a role for you at Coastguard Canterbury.
Coastguard Canterbury are looking for volunteers to make things smooth sailing on land while the rescue crew are focusing on training and call outs. If you have a few hours a week to give or just a few weekends a year, your contribution to Coastguard Canterbury will support our rescue vessel crew save lives at sea – all without getting your feet wet.
Our promise in return
An exciting and challenging role
Management and teamwork skills
Personal development
New friendships with like-minded people
An incredibly rewarding experience
What happens next?
Once we have received your application form, we will be in touch to have a chat with you about what skills and experience you can bring to Coastguard Canterbury. This will give you a chance to ask questions and see if your expectations align.
Please note: acceptance as a Coastguard Volunteer is subject to a clean Police Vetting Report being received.
Full details of how you can get involved and what we need from our shore crew can be found here https://volunteers.coastguard.nz/
Applicants for Coastguard Rescue Vessel Crew must be at least 18 years old. Applicants for Radio Operations or other Shore Based roles may be considered at age 16 or 17 with caregiver’s written consent.
Our volunteers must be New Zealand or Australian Citizens, or NZ permanent Residents.
Being a volunteer requires trust and integrity and is a position that comes with responsibility. So, all applicants must undertake Police vetting. This identifies any convictions the Police hold about a person. We do not accept people who have convictions for arson or sexual offences. For other crimes, it depends on the conviction and when it occurred. For more information see the Police website. If you have any questions about Police vetting to become a volunteer, please email our people team.
People wishing to volunteer are required to self-assess their medical capacity. Anyone in doubt can use the medical guidelines with their GP. For more information about medical vetting, please email our people team. Shore crew does not require a high level of fitness.
Fit, enthusiastic, great administration skills, willingness to get stuck in. a team player, a willingness to learn more and enjoy the time spent with the unit.
Time commitment is approx 2-5 hours a week, depending on the time of year and projects that the unit is working on. Some support role volunteers may also be required to attend the unit training night and other meetings.
Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Ref: 462
Emergency Services
Applicants for this role are required to undergo Police vetting.
You can find out more about this process on the Police website:
http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/businesses-and-organisations/vetting/information-about-vetting
As we are constantly dealing with members of the public both on and off the water, we run open days, attend community events and have groups visit our units such as school groups, Scouts, Guides etc we are required to screen due to coming into contact with Children and Youth and also potentially the aged or vulnerable.