Coastguard Hawke's Bay

22/08/2026

Kia ora folks,

During the agm we reviewed what had been a very busy year. Our annual average has traditionally been around 29 Coastguard assists and approximately 10 Police jobs.
During 2025/26 we carried out:
• 55 Coastguard assists
• 14 Police jobs
• 1 FENZ job
• 1 RCCNZ job
• 1 medical job
We also recognised the efforts of our crew.
Life Membership was awarded to John Flett and Trevor Mitchell. John and Trevor have contributed a huge amount to our Unit over many years and this is a fitting recognition of that support.
Long service awards:
3 years – Jack Hayward
5 years – George Meredith
Two of our trainees were awarded their Deckhand certificates, well done Carol Chen and Wayne Russell.
Awards:
The 2026 Steve McManaway Trainee of the Year Award went to Steve Gorst.
The Steve McManaway Trainee of the Year award is given out each year in memory of Steve who was not only an enthusiastic volunteer, giving many hours as the unit training officer, but was also a mentor and friend to the new trainees joining our group.
The award recognises the time and effort that individuals put into their training to become professional volunteers; it not only recognises their dedication but also their attitude as part of a critical team.

The 2026 Radio Operator of the Year went to Graeme Calder.
The Radio Operator of the Year Award is an award especially for the radio operations section of our organisation.
Our Coastguard radio provides an essential maritime safety service, whether it is a regular radio watch providing trip reporting, navigational information and weather updates to a critical communications role in times of life-threatening emergencies.

The 2026 Bruce McLeod Rescue Vessel Volunteer of the Year went to Sam Walsh.
The Rescue Vessel Crew Volunteer of the Year Award is an award for Rescue Vessel crew members and is named in memory of Bruce who was one of our early skippers and trainers. The award recognises outstanding work, commitment and teamwork contribution in the maintaining and operation our Celia Knowles Rescue vessel either in normal day to day operations or extraordinary events.
The 2026 Mike Carroll Award for Volunteer of the Year went to Neil Faulkner.
The Mike Carroll Award for volunteer of the year recognizes the efforts of a volunteer from anywhere in our unit, wet, radio, or support. The award recognizes the time and effort that individuals put into providing this service, their dedication and their commitment as part of a critical lifesaving team.

Stay safe.

Henry,
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

11/08/2026

Kia ora Coastguard Hawke's Bay members, nothing exciting just some more notice for upcoming agm.

Stay safe.

Henry, Coastguard Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Agenda
Hawke’s Bay Volunteer Coastguard AGM, 19 August 2026
Time: 1900
Venue: HBVCG Building, 704 Meeanee Quay, Westshore, Napier
AGENDA
Welcome
Apologies
Obituaries
Minute of previous meeting
President’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Election of Officers
Subscriptions, discussion over the memberhip subscription rate for the 2026/27 year
Awards
General Business
There is a proposal to update the Unit constitution clause 13 (b) so that it aligns with clause 23.4. Clause 13 (b) has a 21-day notice period for nominations while 23.4 has 14 days. This proposal will standardise the notice period to be fourteen (14) calendar days.

Current
13 ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Elected Committee Members shall be nominated and elected to office as follows:
nominations for the position of Elected Committee Members must be made in writing and signed by the nominee, the proposer and the seconder (“Nomination”);
b the Nomination must be given to the Secretary at least twenty one (21) calendar days prior to the AGM at which the election is to take place;

Proposed
b the Nomination must be given to the Committee at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the AGM at which the election is to take place;

A second proposal is to delete clause 20, Transition. This clause was related to the total re-write of the Constitution last year, this was driven by changes to legislation and is no longer required.

30/07/2026

Kia ora boaties

We have received a report of more logs, these are about a nautical mile east of the Esk River, in about 15m of water. Some of these logs are big and they represent a real risk to vessels in the area especially at night or in poor conditions. Some pics attached.

Logs represent an ongoing risk here in Hawke Bay so please keep a good lookout.

Stay safe.

Henry
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

18/07/2026

Kia ora folks, this afternoon we received a call for assistance from a small vessel on Pania Reef. With great conditions it was a straightforward assist, and we soon had them back into Napier.

Enjoying the swell coming into the Inner Harbour Channel were a few surfers and waka paddlers.

Stay safe.

Henry
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

18/07/2026

Kia ora local boaties, while we were undertaking a vessel assist this afternoon we noted quite a field of logs and debris just west of Pania Reef, pic attached. Some of the logs were quite big.

Please take care in the area.

Henry
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

15/07/2026

Kia ora Coastguard Hawke's Bay members

Nothing exciting, just formal notification of our agm

Our AGM will be at 1900 on 19 August 2026 at our Base, 704 Meeanee Quay, Napier.

Agenda
Welcome
Apologies
Obituaries
Minutes of previous meeting
President's Report
Treasurer's Report
Election of Officers
Subscriptions
Awards
General Business

Matt Harvey
President

If you are interested in standing for committee, please contact our office on [email protected]

23.4 Nominations and Agenda Items: Not less than fourteen (14)] calendar days before the date set for the Annual General Meeting, agenda items (including any proposed alterations to this Constitution) and nominations under Rule 13.1 must be received in writing by the Committee.

If attending, please rsvp to [email protected]

Stay safe.

Henry
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

13/07/2026

Kia ora folks, at about 4pm this afternoon we received an urgent page, a fishing boat about 20 nautical miles (37kms) north of Napier had sent a mayday as they were taking on water and required assistance. Fortunately, their engine was still running so they could continue travelling towards Napier. With relatively flat seas we were able to make great time and we rendezvoused with the vessel about 40 minutes later, at that time they were about 14 nautical miles (26kms) from Napier.

We put two crew onboard along with our salvage pump and soon had the water level under control. It was then a matter of shadowing them back to Napier while our crew continued to operate the salvage pump.

Once tied up at West Quay a diver from DiveHard checked the hull damage. The fishing boat will be taken out of the water first thing tomorrow, in the interim we have left our salvage pump onboard so that the fishing boat crew can continue to control the water level.

Rescue is always a team effort big thanks to everyone who supported us in this rescue, Police SAR squad, Maritime Radio, DiveHard, our local Harbourmaster, the Coastguard shore team and the crew of the fishing boat crew.

Stay safe.

Henry
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

05/07/2026

Kia ora folks

We had quite a mixed bag with our training today. One crew member did an advanced navigation assessment; he did well, and with the sea conditions our newer crew had the opportunity to undertake some helming exercises.

The aim was to get CK close enough to the dan buoy for a crew member to touch it, without running it over! It meant controlling a 12 metre boat in reasonably challenging conditions.

Stay safe.

Henry, Coastguard Hawke's Bay

18/06/2026

Kia ora folks
Today we supported the TwoFold Bay Trust in the scuttling of TwoFold Bay just east of Pania Reef. It was an early start just before dawn when Pania, the Port pilot boat and the trawler Chips started the tow from the Napier Inner Harbour, Our role was to help provide a bit extra in terms of staying on track and keeping other boats clear.

After TwoFold Bay was in position held by two anchors we departed for a late breakfast. When we came back our role was to help take the four-scuttling crew off TwoFold Bay and to ihelp the videographer who was filming the action.

After TwoFold Bay was on the seabed two divers removed the cameras that were onboard videoing her last few moments. TwoFold Bay is now sitting in about 17 metres with a slight list to port. At low water there is approximately 10 meters clearance.

Her position is 39 26.791S, 176 56.974E, please respect the rāhui which is in place until Labour Weekend. This will allow her to settle on the seabed and for marine life to begin establishing.

Stay safe.

Henry, Coastguard Hawke's Bay

17/06/2026

Kia ora folks

A key message from our Harbourmaster in regard to the sinking of TwoFold Bay tomorrow, Thur 18 June.

Key points,
the sinking is weather dependent; at this stage it is all go.
there is a 100m exclusion zone around TwoFold Bay during the tow and sinking
following the sinking there will be a rāhui in place until Labour weekend. This is to allow time for her to settle and for fish life to start.
The tow will start at 7am.

People are invited to share in this exciting event, just please respect the exclusion zone and rāhui.

Stay safe.

Henry
Coastguard Hawke's Bay

⚠️ Public Notice | 100-metre exclusion zone around scuttle operation east of Pania Reef.

The Twofold Bay vessel will be towed from West Quay at 7am on 18 June to the final position which lies just east of Pania Reef to be scuttled at 1pm.

The vessels involved in the operation will be operating within a confined space during the transit through the Inner Harbour channel, all vessels not involved in the operation must keep clear in the interest of navigation safety. There will be a 100-metre exclusion zone around the vessel whilst underway and at the final position.

Vessels that are not a part of the operation are welcome to view the scuttling but must maintain a distance of at least 100 metres.