Early Saturday morning there was an earthquake that struck the Canterbury region. This has had an effect on some of our Surf Life Saving family.

New Zealand surf lifesavers have come away with four gold medals from the Sanyo Bussan Lifesaving Challenge in Japan over the weekend.

The eight strong New Zealand A Surf Life Saving Team are fit, healthy and ready to fire at the Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Nanki Shirahama, Japan.

The Southern Region Pool Championships due to take place today have been postponed due to a 7.4 quake that struck the South Island.

Volunteer Surf Lifeguards in the Bay of Plenty will benefit from easier access to first-aid course training thanks to a $17,000 grant from Pub Charity.

New Zealand kite surfer Louis Tapper has completed an epic month-long marathon along Brazil's coastline.The 2000km trip started in Salvador and finished in Sao Luis earlier today.

Ninety-five years after one of their founding fathers, Sir Bernard Freyberg, swam ashore in the Gulf of Saros to distract the defending Turkish forces, a group from Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club are in Gallipoli.

Every year, the The Morgan Foundation, with help from the NZ Police and local newspapers seeks out special people they call "Kiwi Battlers'. Kiwi Battlers are a special breed; going the extra mile, overcoming obstacles and achieving results – not for themselves, but for their communities. They are working the hardest and having the most positive impact on the lives of the people around them. Kiwi Battlers can be any age, involved in any area of activity, in any part of New Zealand. They just need to have the “wow factor” when it comes to making their community a better place.

Eastern, Central and Southern Regions in place!! With the final voluntary liquidation steps completed by SLS Gisborne and SLS Otago and the final confirmation of staff, the three regions of Eastern, Central and Southern are now in place.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand has paid tribute to pioneering Cook Strait swimmer Barrie Devenport, who died in Australia today.

Notice of the SLSNZ annual general meeting

Eight of New Zealand's most promising surf lifesavers have been picked to attend the Sanyo Bussan international competition in Japan in September.

New Zealand surf lifesaving coach Scott Bartlett has cast an envious eye across the Tasman as Australia named a star-studded lineup for the world championships in October.

Taranaki’s top Surf Lifeguards were honoured last night during the area’s annual Awards of Excellence celebrations.

The Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa top surf lifeguards were honoured tonight during the annual Awards of Excellence celebrations.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is proud to announce the following athletes have been selected for the New Zealand A Team to contest at the Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Japan on the 5 September 2010.

The Bay of Plenty’s top Surf Lifeguards were honoured on Saturday night during the region’s annual Awards of Excellence celebrations.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand have received an invitation to participate in the 2010 Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup. The event will be held on September 5th 2010 in Japan.

Dates and venues for the 2010-2011 Events Calendar announcement

As we rapidly approach our centenary summer, Surf Life Saving New Zealand and State Insurance are pleased to announce the biggest sponsorship relationship in the 100 year history of both organisations.

It was a full house at the New Brighton clubhouse for the Christchurch Awards Dinner on Saturday night, with large numbers from all the clubs turning out to watch their peers and colleagues gain acknowledgement for their efforts during the season.

It was a sell-out crowd at the combined Wellington / Western Districts Awards of Excellence held at Paekakariki Surf Club on Saturday.

Congratulations to Richard Scelly of Whangamata SLSC who was awarded a Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to surf lifesaving.

New Zealand’s world championship campaign got off to a great start at the Australian surf lifesaving pool rescue championships over the weekend.

The UnisonFibre Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards were held at Pettigrew. Green Arena on 29 May, and Guildford was a popular choice for the top prize.

The University of Waikato has 133 Hillary Scholars and awards approximately 40 new Hillary Scholarships each year. There are students on the Programme from all over New Zealand, from Invercargill to Northland.

University Sport New Zealand (USNZ) has announced the recipients of the prestigious Blues Award for the 2009 academic year. Nikki Cox, Surf Life Saving World Champion and New Zealand Surf Life Saving Ironwoman has been shortlisted as a finalists for the 2009 NZU Sportsperson of the Year as well as a NZU Blues Award.

The inaugural Board Appointments Panel (a Representative from each Region) met to consider the application for the vacant position on the SLSNZ Board. The SGM of SLSNZ was held on Wednesday 28 April at 7.30pm (by teleconference). This was an historic occasion as it was the first time in the history of our organisation that clubs were directly involved in a decision of this type.

New Zealand surf lifesavers Lisa Carrington and Teneale Hatton have picked up a hard-fought gold medal at the World Cup sprint canoe regatta in Vichy, France.

A refreshed Glenn Anderson is looking forward to his date with history as the New Zealand surf lifesaving team began their buildup to this year's world championships in Egypt.

Orewa Surf Club are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, and planning is well underway.

Hawke's Bay Surf Lifeguards are among finalists for next month's Hawke's Bay Sportsperson of the Year Awards.

SLSNZ's board gained a new member tonight; Tom Hart.

Our very own 2009 Volunteer of the Year Seth McPhee from Brighton Surf Life Saving Club has been named a finalist the 2010 Intrepid Travel New Zealand Volunteer Awards.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is pleased to announce two new members to our team.

Last night, four lifeguards from Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service were honored with a NZSAR (New Zealand Search and Rescue) Certificate of Achievement, recognising their important contribution to search and rescue in the NZSAR rescue region.

Check out what's happening with the restructuring of Surf Life Saving, including Southern Region appointments.

Titahi Bay suf lifesaver Steven Kent celebrated his inclusion in New Zealand's world championship team by winning his first ever Sovereign Ocean Swim Series title at the King of the Bays in Auckland. The 22-year-old showcased his surf and wading skills superbly, emerging from the water with five other swimmers in the 2.8km event and out-sprinting them to the finish.

New Zealand surf lifesaving selectors have named a team dripping with experience for the world championships in Egypt later this year.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand is proud to announce the following athletes have been chosen to represent New Zealand at Rescue 2010 the World Championships of Surf Life Saving from the 5-9 October in Alexandria, Egypt.

Surf Lifeguards rescued 1,342 people and spent over 194,000 hours patrolling New Zealand beaches this summer – highlighting a significant increase in volunteer patrol hours. Over 290 searches were conducted nationally and 93,000 ‘preventative actions’ were performed as guards continued to focus on preventative measures, averting the potential for a situation to turn into a rescue scenario.

Legendary American singer songwriter James Taylor rowed Surf Boats with current Under 19 and under 23 mens NZ Surf Boat champions at Piha Beach on Auckland West Coast today.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand are pleased to announce the following people have been successful in gaining the Outward Bound Scholarship.

The 2011 BP Surf Rescue NZ Championships will be held at Whangamata Beach on the 1st - 3rd April 2011.

Mount Maunganui College confirmed their school's surf life saving talent for the second year running, taking out the U16 BOP Polytech Secondary School Surf Life Saving Champs title again in an action packed day at Mount Maunganui beach.

Chris Scott and Jaron Mumby finished their long IRB career on a high but East End finished on top on the final day of the national championships in Waipu Cove, Northland, today.

Taranaki's premier East End crew started from where they'd left off on the first day of the 2010 BP Surf Rescue IRB championships at Waipu Cove, Northland, today.

One of surf lifesaving's most enduring partnerships will come to an end this weekend, although star Taranaki IRB drivers Chris Scott and Jaron Mumby hope to exit how they started.

Omanu's Ben Cochrane and Papamoa's Kahleia Josephson are set to appear on TV3's Push Play show this weekend.

New Zealand’s star beach sprinters added some sparkle to an otherwise sombre weekend at the Australian surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast.

Mount Maunganui beach sprinter Chelsea Maples picked up New Zealand’s second medal of an abbreviated Australian surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast today.

New Zealand ironman title-holder Daniel Moodie comfortably progressed through the heats of the Australian championships on the Gold Coast today, though his efforts were overshadowed by the tragic death of an under-19 competitor.

It is with absolute regret that we hear of news that an Under 19 competitor, believed to be Saxon Bird from Queenscliff SLSC, has been involved in a fatal incident during the ski leg of the Under 19 Ironman Race at the Australian National Championships at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast.

Although it feels like summer has only just arrived in some areas, the reality is autumn is here and the patrol season is drawing to a close.

Shaun Quincey’s mammoth effort to raise awareness for Surf Life Saving by being the first person to successfully row solo across the Tasman from Australia to New Zealand has certainly been achieved after he arrived at Ninety Mile Beach last Sunday

Mike Janes has collected the first medal by a New Zealander at the Australian surf lifesaving championships in Queensland, winning bronze in the event-opening 2km beach run.

We have a limited supply of 2010 Nationals t-shirts left. These are a high quality, dry-fit t-shirt perfect for training in as they are sunsmart, breathable and quick dry.

A record number of New Zealand competitors will compete in this week's Australian surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast, with more than 90 Kiwis expected to race on a cyclone-affected Kurrawa Beach.

Taranaki swim star Dylan Dunlop-Barrett is the bolter in a 17-strong squad of surf lifesavers named to prepare for this year’s world rescue championships in Egypt

Daniel Moodie eased to his fifth consecutive New Zealand ironman title at the NZCT Surf Life Saving championships in Whakatane today, while Nikki Cox reigned again in the open women’s division.

Fitzroy flyer Steve Harris caused the big upset on the second day of the NZCT Surf Life Saving championships in Whakatane today.

There’s already been tragedy, tribulations and a tsunami – now surf lifesaving star Dan Moodie wants to add another title to his alliterative resume this season.

As summer draws to an end and the official Surf Life Saving patrol season gets set to wind down at Easter, over 1500 of New Zealand’s top Lifeguards are coming together this weekend for the pinnacle sporting event of the season at the NZCT Surf Life Saving Championships in Whakatane from March 11 – 14.

Sheer weight of numbers helped Omanu to a rampant win in the NZCT Masters Surf Life Saving Championships in Whakatane today.

There’s already been tragedy, tribulations and a tsunami – now surf lifesaving star Dan Moodie wants to add another title to his alliterative resume this season.

Matt Sutton will be putting his money where his mouth is when he lines up at this week’s NZCT Surf Life Saving championships in Whakatane.

New Zealand’s top surf lifesavers will take some decent form into the NZCT national championships, which start with the masters titles in Whakatane tomorrow.

Cold wind, fog and rain did nothing to dampen the performance of Blair Quane and Simon Williams (Sumner SLSC) who made a clean sweep of the Premier division and ensured Sumner were the overall top club at the BP Surf Rescue South Island Championships

Rob Pidgeon, our 2009 BP Surf Lifeguard of the Year was the subject of a feature on TVNZ's Asia Downunder programme recently.

Almost 100% of New Zealanders plan to visit a beach at least once this summer – however 47% predict they will swim at a beach not patrolled by Surf Lifeguards. These are the results of a DHL survey of 361 New Zealanders’ beach safety awareness as part of its on-going sponsorship of Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) since 2003.

Lyall Bay took out the Ocean Athlete under-14 national surf lifesaving championships after a dramatic day in Mount Maunganui today.

Civil Defence has issued a tsunami warning for New Zealand after a massive earthquake struck Chile yesterday, killing dozens at least.

We are sad to announce the passing of Cyril O'Neill QSM on 24 February 2010. He had a bad fall recently, and despite his tenacity for life, sadly he did not recover.

Results from Day Three at the 2010 New Zealand Under 14 Ocean Athlete Championships held at Main Beach, Mount Maunuganui

Two of the smaller clubs tasted big success on the second day of the Ocean Athlete under-14 national Surf Lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui today.

The depth of Wellington's swimming talent helped Lyall Bay to an early lead after the first day of the Ocean Athlete under-14 national surf lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui today.

Summer finally found its way to the beach to shine on the 2010 Southern Ocean Athlete Championships. The event was attended by 275 of the top under-16 surf life saving athletes from around the South Island.

Nineteen people have drowned so far this year – a significant reduction on the 30 drownings recorded at the same time last year. Nine people drowned in January, a record low for what is typically the worst month of the year - and the lowest January figure since records began in 1980.

Surf lifesaving superstars Shannon Eckstein and Zane Holmes will make a rare foray onto New Zealand sand this weekend, attending the New Zealand Under-14 Ocean Athlete Championships in Mount Maunganui which starts tomorrow.

The Whakatane women's surf boat crew emerged victorious from a day of carnage at the final round of the national series in Piha yesterday.

New Plymouth Old boys from Taranaki finished the Central Regional Surf Life Saving Championships in the top position. NPOB Club Coach and NZ team Captain Glenn Anderson said he was “pleased with his athletes performance leading into nationals in a couple of weeks time”.

Shannon Eckstein won a record-equalling fifth Kellogg's Nutrigrain Ironman title at North Cronulla today while Alicia Marriott became the first woman to win the triple crown of the surf lifesaving's major events.

It was the local Clubs of Fitzroy, East End and New Plymouth Old Boys Surf Life saving clubs and visitors Paekakariki that performed well at the Central Regional Surf Lifesaving Championships being held in New Plymouth today.

New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie is desperate for some consistency heading into the final of the lucrative Kellogg's Nutrigrain series in Sydney this weekend.

A raw slab of West Coast swell is pulsing towards Piha for the final event in the New Zealand surf boat series this weekend. The two-day competition will start tomorrow with the annual `Day of Giants' trans-Tasman challenge, pitting four of Australia's best crews against New Zealand's finest.

Drowning numbers were reported as being down in January this year - however Surf Lifeguards have been kept on their toes by being involved in a larger than normal number of fatal incidents.

Whites Bay provided a beautiful setting for the 2010 Canterbury Surf Boat Championships. Calm sea’s and warm temperatures gave fair conditions for racing.

Ironman Glenn Anderson epitomised Taranaki's win-at-all costs mentality today, climbing from his sick bed to hand his team an emotional come-from-behind victory in the Lion Foundation Surf League.

Auckland take a miniscule three-point buffer into the final day of surf lifesaving's glamour event, the Lion Foundation Surf League on Mt Maunganui beach, after an unexpected lead-out from their swimmers today.

Surf Lifeguards have rescued over 830 people and volunteered over 135,800 hours so far this summer to help make our beaches a safer place – but will still find time to go head to head at the Lion Foundation Surf League at Mount Maunganui this weekend.

Taranaki's Glenn Anderson has delivered an ominous appraisal ahead of the weekend's Lion Foundation Surf League, warning all six rival provinces that the reigning champions head to Mt Maunganui a more well-rounded unit than last year's winning team.

Results of lottery 13...

Titahi Bay scored an poignant win at the North Island surf boat championships in Waihi Beach yesterday and in doing so, secured the national series title with a round to spare.

Mount Maunganui saw 242 people come together on Havaianas Lilos each measuring 1.7m as part of the Havaianas Lilo Challenge.

Series leaders Titahi Bay have a large target on their bow heading into the third round of the national surf boat series in Waihi Beach this weekend. The round doubles as the North Island championships, attracting more than 60 crews to the Bay of Plenty beach, with national champions Titahi Bay preserving a perfect series record so far.

New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie will be racing in his father's memory at this weekend's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain series in Australia.

National Jandal Day donations have exceeded expectation as final contributions roll in around the country. Kiwis generously supported Surf Life Saving’s annual appeal day as Lifeguards and collectors flip-flopped their way around the country on Friday 4th December raising approximately $352,000 - and proceeds are still coming in.

Papamoa stunned their rival clubs at the Northern Regional surf lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui with an upset win on a tumultous final day today.

A strong Australian-based contingent and some long awaited swell will hit Mount Maunganui ’s Main Beach this weekend at the Northern Regional surf lifesaving championships.

Discount for SLS members entering SNZOSS events

Top New Zealand surf lifesaver Daniel Moodie made immediate improvement in round two of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman series at Kurrawa Beach, Queensland, today.

New Zealand surf lifesaving star Daniel Moodie had a fierce introduction to the white-hot Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman series at Kurrawa Beach, Queensland, today.

Despite a flurry of firsts, Fitzroy had to bow to fellow Taranaki club East End for overall honours at the North Island BP IRB Surf Rescue Championships at Whangamata yesterday. Fitzroy's national champion crew of Jaron Mumby and Chris Scott won two of the four premier men's finals and their top women's crew of Emma Crofskey and Katie Watts went one better with three victories.

Taranaki's strong IRB ranks will be tested by a large influx of rivals from around the country at the North Island BP surf rescue championships in Whangamata this weekend.

Last week we launched a central 'Media Hub'. This service provides a central collection point for any potential newsworthy story which might have the potential for getting us exposure in the media.

The reigning national champions continued where they'd left off at the opening round of the national surf boat series in Wellington this weekend.

A celebration of Surf Life Saving took place in Wellington yesterday as national honours were awarded to past and present Surf Lifeguards at the 2009 DHL ‘In it for Life’ Awards. Over 30 of New Zealand’s elite Surf Life Saving members were officially recognised for their hard work and dedication to Surf Life Saving.