HEROES OF THE SAND

Consisting of two elongated main islands New Zealand has thousands of beaches with the majority of Kiwis having easy access to one. Today, there are 74 surf clubs operating in New Zealand.

In the 1920s, swimming became a fad. Unfortunately, most people couldn’t swim so it seemed a good idea to have those who could swim keep an eye out for non swimmers who were drawn to the sea to cool down or relax. The first lifesaving club appeared in Christchurch in 1909 and was quickly followed by the Lyall and Worser Bay clubs in Wellington.  The St. Clair Surf Club in Dunedin and the Castlecliff club in Wanganui were also established at this time. By the 1930s, lifesaving clubs were found active on most city beaches over the summer months. read more