Northland Lifeguards

Northland lifeguards partnered with PBL & Waipu About Terns for the first rookie training camp with with training activities about protecting shorebird and bush habitats in our area. Northland rookie lifeguards looking to take up the mantle of fully qualified guards came together over a weekend for a groundbreaking training camp. It was the first time four of the region's surf lifesaving clubs - Waipū Cove, Ruakākā, Whangārei Heads, and Mangawhai Heads - had joined forces to deliver a camp for young guards.

Training went beyond surf lifesaving and into protecting the beach environment. The rookie guards learnt how to trap pests and ways to protect endangered Fairy Terns. They also absorbed a wealth of knowledge about weeding the sand dunes and planting more spinifex and pīngao.

Waipū hosted the camp, with club captain Kath Manning dubbing it "a big success". "We even had dolphins join us while we were doing rock training," she said. Manning said it was great to have such "awesome collaboration" between clubs. The camp was kindly sponsored by On Target Drilling. More details can be found at NZ Herald here