Coastguard New Zealand is the charity
that provides New Zealand's primary maritime Search and Rescue
service from a network of 4 regions and 68 Units located around the
coastline and major lakes of New Zealand. These Units have often
been established by a concerned community after a local boating
tragedy.
Coastguard Central Region's twelve
Units are volunteer organisations with charitable status, are self
funded and operate on contributions from sponsorship, fundraising
and funding obtained from community and gaming
trusts.
Of the Units nine operate rescue
vessels, three which operate aircraft in the form of Coastguard Air
Patrols (two in conjunction with rescue vessel
Units).
Coastguard Central Region Unit
membership comprises of more than 300 very dedicated active
volunteer members who tirelessly provide this vital service in
their community.
The majority of Coastguard Central
Region's fleet of vessels are 6.8m Naiad Rigid Hull Inflatable
Boats (RIB's). There is also one Waveney Class and one Brede Class
Lifeboats which have previously seen service in the Royal National
Lifeboat Institute in Britain and continue to provide good service
in Central Region.
The equipment on board the dedicated
rescue vessels includes a marine electronics suite which includes
radar/plotter, GPS and VHF radio. Medical and specialist safety and
survival equipment is also carried to assist in responding to a
variety of incidents.
Coastguard Central Region Units also
provides other services which include safety boats at marine events
and a national radio network. The VHF radio network provides marine
weather information, local marine communications services such as
receiving Trip Reports for those putting to sea in their
area.
Every year this network of radio
operators answers thousands of calls for help and in conjunction
with the teams who operate the vessels and aircraft, provides
assistance resulting in many lives saved and millions of dollars
worth of boats and equipment recovered to safety.
In addition Coastguard provides a
Boating Education Service which delivers a variety of boating
safety courses to the New Zealand public as it is only through
better education that people will learn to respect the water and
know what to do when an emergency occurs.
There is a suggested carpark given
and it is only a short walk to the cache passing the Kapiti
Coastguard HQ on the way. If parking in the more northerly carpark
which is a little closer be aware that exiting from the carpark
onto the roundabout requires a left turn.
Access to GZ can be from the beach or by following
indistinct tracks that traverse the foredune area. Be careful not
to damage any plantings and keep children on a leash.
Please replace the cache securely
.
GZ is a well
camouflaged container .