Community asked to help finish new Tāhunanui clubhouse

On patrol days at Tāhunanui, volunteers watch over one of the region’s busiest beaches. But the work of Nelson Surf Life Saving Club doesn’t stop at the flags.

Across Nelson and Tasman, including the Golden Bay area, volunteers respond to Search and Rescue callouts, support Civil Defence emergencies, train young people, and prepare for incidents most of the community never sees. Much of that work is currently run out of shipping containers and scattered storage rather than a purpose-built facility.

The club has already secured $3.29 million of the $4.9 million required for a new clubhouse at Tāhunanui, with major backing from Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Nelson City Council. Now, it is turning to the community for the final push.

The Donate a Brick campaign has been launched to help close the remaining funding gap and get the project across the line.

Through Donate a Brick, individuals, families and businesses can purchase a symbolic brick and have their name recognised as part of the new clubhouse.

“We’ve done the hard yards to get this far. Now we’re asking the community to help us get it over the line,” says Noah Hosie, President of Nelson Surf Life Saving Club.

The campaign is being supported by MediaWorks radio, with a region-wide promotion aimed at encouraging locals to get involved during this final fundraising phase.

Nelson Surf Life Saving Club volunteers work year-round. In summer they patrol the beach, but throughout the year they respond to emergencies, maintain rescue equipment, train new lifeguards and Search and Rescue members, and run junior and youth programmes that build the next generation of volunteers. The new clubhouse is being built to properly support all of this work, now and into the future.

“When you need us, we’re here,” says Hosie. “Right now, we need the community behind us.”

Information panels are now in place at Tāhunanui, and the club is encouraging locals who use and value the beach to be part of completing the project. Full details on how to Donate a Brick here.