Just wanted to wish you all a Merry Xmas for 2025!

Thank you to every member, volunteer and family who has made 2025 a strong year for Nelson Surf Life Saving Club. Our club continues to grow — with junior surf numbers up and more lifeguard members patrolling and keeping our beach safe. Your commitment, energy and teamwork are what make this possible.

We’re excited to announce progress on the new clubhouse project. This build will provide better facilities for training, community events and lifesaving operations. There’s fundraising ahead and we’ll need everyone’s support to bring the project across the line. If you can help with time, ideas, events or donations, please get in touch with the committee. More information on this below.

A big thanks to the committee for their tireless work this year and to all volunteers who give their time on patrols, coaching, administration and fundraising. Wishing you and your families a safe, happy Christmas and a rewarding season ahead. We look to seeing you all back rested and ready to go in 2026.

Noah Hosie

Some 2025 photo memories!

WhatsApp Image 2025-12-14 at 7.02.29 PM_3.jpeg

WhatsApp Image 2025-12-14 at 7.02.29 PM_1.jpeg

We’re Building the Heart of Surf Lifesaving in Nelson

For more than 60 years, Nelson Surf Lifesaving Club has protected our community — from beach patrols and flood rescues to Search & Rescue missions across the region.

Now, we’re building a permanent base to bring it all together — a true home for lifesaving, community, and youth.

We’ve raised $3.29 million of $4.9 million. The finish line is in sight — but we need your help to get there.

Learn more

New guards join the team

We’re very proud to announce the induction of 8 new Surf Lifeguards from Nelson.

A massive congratulations to this group - your hard work, dedication, and mahi over the six-week training period has truly paid off.
Welcome to the team, we’re so proud of you!

A huge thank you to Mary Seelen, our Training Officer, Ariana McGee (Instructor), and Aimee Hogue and Heidi Curtis (trainee instructors), for making this all happen, and to our examiners:

Amy Phillips (SLSNZ Southern Region)
Brendon Ferguson (Rārangi)
Stu Edens (Nelson)

Thank you for giving up your time to support, assess, and uplift our trainee guards — we’re incredibly grateful.

NSLSC Training Opportunities

Adult Surf Lifeguard Course – Supporting Our Growing Nippers Programme

With Junior Surf (Nippers) numbers continuing to grow, NSLSC is offering a Surf Lifeguard course specifically for adults and Junior Surf parents who want to help support our tamariki in the water and on the beach.

This course is a fantastic opportunity to:

Build surf awareness and lifesaving skills
Gain confidence supporting your children during Junior Surf sessions
Help the club safely manage our expanding Nippers programme
Take on a rewarding and meaningful challenge

No prior surf lifesaving experience is required — just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

📅 Course Dates

Friday 9 January – 5:00pm
Meet at the beach base to collect workbooks (to be completed in your own time).
Weekend of 14–15 February 2026
A two-day, bootcamp-style training weekend, with the exam incorporated.

Parent involvement is critical to the success of our Junior Surf programme, and this course plays a key role in ensuring we can continue to deliver safe, fun, and well-supported sessions for our Nippers.

⚠️ Minimum numbers are required to run this course.
Thanks to those who have already emailed - If you have any interest, please register by emailing: Mary Seelen – Training Officer training@nelsonslsc.org.nz

Tasman IRB Development Weekend

This development weekend is open to lifeguards of all experience levels and is designed to give everyone valuable time in the IRB. Whether it’s your first time crewing, your first time driving, or you’re keen to develop more advanced driver skills, there will be something for you.

This is a great chance to build confidence, sharpen skills, and spend time learning alongside fellow lifeguards from across the region.

📅 Course Dates

📅 31 January – 1 February
📍 Whites Bay (Rārangi SLSC)
👉 Register your interest click here
📧 Questions? Email Amy Philip at
amy.philip@surflifesaving.org.nz

Surf Sport up and away!

This year Ben Clark has made the move from supporting Junior Surf to Surf Sport. Ben has been invaluable in his role supporting the Juniors and we are extremely grateful for his tireless work in growing the junior Club. Ben has been replaced with the equally amazing Desra Fergusson (More on Desra below).

In his new role as Surf Sport Officer Ben is now turning his hand to mentoring and coaching our up-coming seniors. Ben has started with running Tuesday coaching sessions at Tahunanui. These run from 4:30pm and are open to all seniors and also any lifeguards that want to improve their skills and fitness for the patrolling season.

If you have any interest in joining please contact Ben Clark (sports@nelsonslsc.org.nz)

Welcome to Desra Fergusson

A massive congratulations to Desra Fergusson who has taken on the role of Junior Surf Officer. Desra is not new to the club having spent many years supporting her children and the club in various roles. This is an exciting new role for Desra that is critical to the success of the club. Desra has quickly got her feet under the table with junior numbers swelling to over 110 junior surf members registered. Big thanks to Desra and the amazing team of lead coaches that turn up each week to run these sessions.

We are also appreciative of all the Parents who help on the day. Without their help these sessions would not be possible. We are hoping that many of these parents will also take the next step and join the parent lifeguard course set for next year!

Carnival is approaching fast!

We are super excited about our our upcoming Nelson carnival. The carnival is set for Saturday 10th of January and is a competitive/fun day where we can test the skills we have learned against other clubs. It is open to all ages and includes the following events:

Beach flags
Board paddle
Beach sprints
Diamond
Run-Swim-Run or Run-Wade-Run.

Saturday 10th January 2026

8:30 am – IRB Race Series #1 (including Single, Mass & Assembly rescue events)
9:00 am - Carnival registration
10:00 am – Nelson Carnival including beach and water events for all competitors

Sunday 11th January 2026

9:00 am – IRB Long Haul (course information to come)

For more information you may read the Parents Guide.

Registrations must be made by the 27th December.

Register for Carnival (closes 27th December)

Nelson IRB Team win Gold

The Nelson Open Women IRB Race Team made an outstanding impression at the Eastern Region Development Clinic and Competition held at Papamoa Beach. Represented by Courtney Moir, Britt Spencer, and Pipi Johns, the team showcased exceptional skill, teamwork, and determination across all events.

Their hard work paid off in a clean sweep—winning gold in all four events they entered. Alongside their racing success, the team also gained valuable new skills and insights throughout the development clinic, which they will bring back to support and enhance the coaching of Nelson’s IRB racing squad.

A huge thank you to Sunset Beach for their incredible support in hosting the team on the beach and kindly providing an IRB for competition use, and to the Moir family for generously accommodating the team during the event. Your support played a big role in making this trip possible.