What we’re building

For more than 60 years, Nelson Surf Life Saving Club has operated without a true home. Volunteers are spread across shipping containers, borrowed rooms, and makeshift sheds. Equipment is scattered, rescues can be delayed, and training the next generation is harder than it should be. We cannot continue to keep people safe with inadequate facilities. The time is now to secure a fit-for-purpose base.

This is not an ordinary building — it is lifesaving infrastructure. The design must be durable for coastal conditions, large enough to house critical rescue and search-and-rescue equipment, and safe, modern, and accessible for volunteers, youth, and the wider community.

Funding is coming from a combination of sources, including Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, Nelson City Council, community trusts, philanthropic foundations, local businesses, and individual donors. To date, $3.25 million has been secured. The final $1.65 million must be raised through business sponsorships and community fundraising.

Delaying comes at a cost. Our volunteers are already working under pressure with inadequate facilities. Retaining and training lifeguards is becoming harder. Nelson is growing, beach visitor numbers are rising, and extreme weather events are more frequent. Waiting means risking lives.

Surf lifesaving is about much more than swimmers. Nelson Surf Life Saving Club supports flood rescues, storm events, missing persons, and civil defence emergencies across the wider region. Even if you never swim at Tāhunanui, you, your family, or your community may one day depend on our volunteers.

The new clubhouse will improve safety at one of New Zealand’s busiest beaches. It will provide a pathway for young people through Junior Surf, developing confidence, resilience, and skills that last a lifetime. It will be a shared hub for schools, events, and local groups. And it will strengthen Nelson’s disaster-response capability. This is a facility for everyone.

Without full funding, the project cannot proceed in its intended form. That would mean continuing to operate out of scattered, inadequate facilities — delaying rescues, limiting training, and weakening our ability to respond to floods and emergencies. Raising the final funds is critical to delivering a safe, modern, effective base.

No. This is a community facility. It will serve the thousands of visitors who enjoy Tāhunanui each summer, young people learning lifesaving skills, and the wider Nelson Tasman region through flood response and search and rescue.

Yes! The new clubhouse will include a flexible, modern venue space that can seat between 70 and 150 people, depending on configuration. It will feature a commercial-capable kitchen, audio-visual and corporate media facilities, and full accessibility.
Perfect for corporate or club meetings, workshops, small weddings or receptions, and community gatherings, it will be a welcoming, functional space for the whole region.

The location provides essential elevated visibility of the beach and direct access to the water — both critical for patrols and rescues. The design integrates with the natural environment and meets coastal planning requirements. It is carefully planned to balance functionality with respect for the dunes.

No. The design is being developed to respect and integrate with the environment. It meets coastal planning requirements and ensures balance between public safety and natural preservation.