If you’re interested in obtaining your lifeguard award please get in touch admin@pslg.co.nz

The Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards are a part of New Zealand’s wider surf lifesaving movement (Surf Life Saving New Zealand). We are one of 74 surf lifesaving clubs in New Zealand and have been patrolling Paekakariki Beach for over a century. The Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards are actively patrolling in the summer months, with patrols beginning in December and finishing around Easter Weekend of each year.

Lifeguard training – rookie training

We run our own training programme each surf season in accordance with SLSNZ standards. Our senior lifeguards act as instructors, taking trainee lifeguards through a range of physical and classroom training to get them up to scratch.

Qualifying as a Surf Lifeguard

To be a qualified lifeguard you must be 14 years or older and pass your Surf Lifeguard Award exam. The exam comprises:

• 400m pool swim in under 9 minutes
• run/swim/run in the surf
• resuscitation test
• rescue test
• theory questions
• practical surf knowledge test.

Each season active Surf Lifeguards must perform a refresher test. This includes a swim, resuscitation test and first aid questions. It is not designed to fail people but to ensure their fitness and knowledge is up to the required standard.