Blues Rugby To Support Coastguard

1 April 2015

Blues Rugby To Support Coastguard

The Blues rugby organisation is helping Coastguard achieve its mission of saving lives at sea by helping to educate Kiwis on how to stay safe when out on the water.

The organisations will join together on a number of initiatives throughout the Blues’ region of Auckland, North Harbour and Northland.

The partnership came about after Coastguard attended an incident during a Blues fitness training session on the harbour earlier in the year.

“We were really impressed with our involvement with Coastguard and recognise what an important job they do in our community,” said Blues CEO Michael Redman.

“We talked further and learned that they are a charity that last year helped bring more than 7000 people home to safety.

“The water plays a fundamental part of the lifestyle we enjoy especially throughout the rugby region covered by the Blues. Most of our team are regularly on or in the water in their social life with boating, swimming, water sports and especially fishing, which is a popular pastime, so it seemed right for us to lend our support to Coastguard and for them to get closer to us.”

Following one of the busiest summers on record the partnership is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of Coastguard’s role and the key safety messages that enable kiwis to enjoy the water safely.” says Callum Gillespie, CEO of Coastguard’s Northern Region.

“The Blues know what it takes to be a team, as do our Coastguard volunteers when they drop everything to head out and save the life of another. The partnership is a great fit and will help us to spread the water safety message. We are delighted to have the support of the Blues.”

As boaties hit the water in the lead up to Easter Coastguard wishes to remind everyone to have fun but stay safe on the water this long weekend. Remember:

Life Jackets: Take them – Wear them. Boats, especially ones under 6m in length, can sink very quickly. Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.

Communications. Take two separate waterproof ways of communicating so we can help you if you get into difficulties.

Marine Weather. New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.

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