Lifeguarding

The New Brighton beach has iconic status for both Christchurch residents and visitors from afar. The New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club exists to prevent drowning and injury on the beach over the summer months. We achieve this by providing a volunteer surf lifeguard patrol on Saturdays and Sundays from 11-5pm. The patrol season runs from 11th November 2023 until 17th March 2024.

We are a swimming nation. New Zealand boasts 15,000 km of coastline and 90% of us live within 40 minutes of a beach. But our glorious surf can be a deadly playground. Since 1910, ordinary Kiwis have volunteered their weekends to patrol our beaches saving thousands of lives and keeping people safe. Surf Lifeguards can be the difference between life and death and every volunteer Surf Lifeguard knows the powerful motivation of saving or protecting a life.

You get to spend time at the beach, make life-long friends, become trained in first aid, resuscitation, and practical rescue skills as well as have the opportunity to stay fit and healthy through competing in a variety of surf sports.

Patrol hours

Club Volunteer Patrols
(Weekend Patrol)

  • Saturday 11th November 2023

  • Finishes: Sunday 17th March 2024

  • Includes: Show Day, Waitangi Day

Volunteer Patrol Times

  • Saturday: 11AM to 5PM

  • Sunday: 11AM to 5PM

  • Public holidays that fall on a weekend, eg. Christmas Day, Boxing Day: 1PM to 5PM
    Show Day, Waitangi Day: 1PM to 5PM

Regional Guard Service
(Weekday Patrol)

  • Commences: Tuesday 12th December 2023

  • Finishes: Friday 26th January 2024

    Professional Lifeguards also patrol the beach on weekdays during the busy summer school holiday periods.

Regional Guard Patrol Times

  • Monday to Friday 10AM to 6PM

Become a Surf Lifeguard

If you’re keen to become a volunteer Surf Lifeguard, you need to be at least 14 years of age and be able to swim 400m free-style in under 9 minutes.

We provide a supportive training programme (which will take place at the clubhouse, beach, and a local pool) that will teach give you the skills you’ll need to achieve your Surf Lifeguard Award. In terms of gear, all you need is a wetsuit, togs, goggles and swim fins.

After you achieve your Surf Lifeguard Award you’ll join a patrol team and will be rostered for duty. Volunteer Surf Lifeguards patrol on weekends and public holidays during the warmer months of the year.

Rookie Lifeguard Programme

The Rookie Lifeguard Programme has been designed to help junior surf members prepare to be a Surf Lifeguard. The Rookie Lifeguard Programme aims to promote “practical lifeguarding” to the younger members and develop strong ties between senior and junior members as a result of involvement.

The target audience for this programme is 13-year-old junior surf members wishing to become a Surf Lifeguards next season.

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