Coastguard Clyde

06/05/2026

Across the Tasman, our hearts are heavy for our brothers and sisters at Marine Rescue Ballina.
Though we operate on the inland lakes and rivers of Central Otago, New Zealand, the bond of our maritime family knows no borders. We stand in solemn solidarity with you following the tragic loss of your two dedicated volunteers.
Their courage and ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty represent the very best of us all.
Our deepest sympathies are with their families, the Ballina unit, and the entire community.
We honor their service and mourn alongside you from across the water. ⚓️🧡

Last night was the darkest night ever experienced by Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers answer the call for help 24/7 and last night six members from Marine Rescue Ballina did just that. They launched with a single mission, to save lives on the water and assist a yacht, reported to be in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall.

Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the devastating loss is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by volunteers who serve their communities.

“These two men were serving their local community and have made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of the deceased, their fellow crew members, the brave radio operators who handled the difficult communications during the incident, the entire Marine Rescue NSW family and the wider Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

“We are supporting our volunteers and their families through professional counselling and chaplaincy support.

“We ask that the privacy of those involved and their families be respected during this difficult time,” Commissioner Andrews said.

02/01/2026

Happy New Year Team ! New Year’s Day callout – Lake Roxburgh

At 10.30pm on New Year’s Day, Coastguard Clyde volunteers assisted a family of five stranded after their main engine failed.

They tried using a trolling motor to get back, but strong river currents made progress impossible. After running out of fuel in their small outboard and failing to siphon from the larger engine, they were stuck.

With bad weather approaching, fading light, and two young children aged 4 and 7, walking out was unsafe. The children were hungry but warm and in good spirits. Holding onto willow trees, the family managed to text a friend who raised the alarm.

Coastguard Clyde responded quickly, transferred the mother and two children to the Rescue Vessel, and completed a 40-minute tow home.
Great to see all five wearing personal flotation devices and that they had a person on shore who was aware of their situation and able to raise the alarm.

Safety reminders:
• Carry more than one form of communication – VHF radio, PLB, or waterproof phone
• Plan for changing weather conditions and strong river currents
• Ensure enough fuel and contingency options

In an emergency, call 111. For non-urgent assistance on the water, call *500.

Coastguard membership supports our volunteers and means you won’t pay for an eligible rescue.

Cheers
Coastguard Clyde

25/12/2025

Coastguard Clyde gets a 0.5 second glimpse in this Coastguard Tautiaki Moana YouTube promo. ✅️

--------------------------✨About Coastguard:We exist to save lives on the water in Aotearoa New Zealand. Powered by 2,000+ volunteers from Cape Rēinga to Blu...

19/12/2025

Awesome turnout by our volunteer crew at 7 pm in the busy lead up to Christmas. From callout to on the road 14 minutes which is OK for a mostly Rural based crew. 16 minute drive to a suitable lakeside launch spot, normal. 5 minutes at 65 kph to pick up ambo crew opposite accident scene.
Just 4 minutes later and we pick up the first of four cold, wet boaties.

16/10/2025

🎉Celebrating Service and Achievement 🎉

At this week’s AGM, we proudly celebrated the incredible contributions of Colin Horsnell, James Robinson, Tony Smith, and Eddie Fox, each marking 20 years of dedicated service to Coastguard. 👏

Together, they’ve given an outstanding 80 years of volunteer time to the Central Otago community - a legacy of commitment we’re truly grateful for! 🥳

We were joined by Rob Creasy, Coastguard Regional Manager – Southern, Tracey Duthie, Head of Support Services, and Johnny Quinn, Coastguard’s newest board member from Queenstown, to help mark the occasion.

👏 We also recognised Brent Wilson and Gerard Pearson, who received certificates for three years of service - thank you both for your continued dedication.

👏 Congratulations to our newly qualified crew members: Blake Cameron, Graham Bastow, Reid Long, and Simone McKirdy - an exciting milestone and a huge achievement!

👏 And lastly, a special shoutout to Simon Austen-Smith, our newest recruit, who flew through his Deckhand qualification in record time - an impressive start to his Coastguard journey.

It was a fantastic night to reflect on a successful year for the unit and to acknowledge the amazing volunteers and supporters who make it all possible!

15/05/2025

https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/coastguard-now-able-rescue-cyclists-need

An initiative to support cyclists in difficulty on Central Otago’s cycle trails has been launched following a memorandum of understanding between...

15/05/2025

Full article.

​Extra peace of mind for cyclists on our trails Date: 12 May 2025, 6:33 pm Categories: News A safety initiative aimed at supporting cyclists in difficulty on our trails has been launched, following a memorandum of understanding between COBA (Community of Bike Ambassadors) and Coastguard Clyde. For...

15/05/2025

Please remember that in any EMERGENCY, call 111 and the police will activate the most appropriate first responder services eg Coastguard, Helicopter, LandSAR, Ambo, etc

🚤Extra peace of mind for cyclists on our trails🚴‍♀️

We're pleased to launch the memorandum of understanding between Coastguard Clyde and our community bike ambassadors (COBAs) that gives cyclists some additional peace of mind that they can get help by boat if they get into trouble out on the trails for non-critical injuries or incidents, particularly on the river tracks.
Pictured: Coastguard Clyde President James Robinson (left) and COBA Programme Director Chris (Foggie) Foggin shake on the MOU.

See page 6 this week's News:
👉https://digital.thenews.co.nz/html5/default.aspx
Read more:
👉https://www.codc.govt.nz/your-council/news?item=id:2u2tsoupu1cxby9ig308

07/05/2024

Coastguard Clyde was started in 2004 by a group of local boaties who shared a common love of the water and a firm belief that local water-users needed skilled help if something went wrong.

After two years of hard work we raised funds to purchase our first rescue vessel which had previously been owned by Sumner Lifeboat. Clyde Rescue continues to give good service on the lakes and rivers of Central Otago.

In 2009 we started fundraising for an operations base to house our vessel and equipment. With the support of the Alexandra Lions Club, NZCT, Otago Community Trust, and Pub Charity we were able to build our current headquarters which opened in October 2010. We are grateful to the Department of Conservation Rural Fire for the use of their land and ongoing support.

They also fundraised to establish a permanent operational building on the grounds of the Department of Conservation Rural Fire Depot adjacent to Trail Journeys at Clyde. This was officially opened in October 2010.