[12] The costs incurred for emergency services provided by Coastguard are covered by Police or Rescue Coordination Centre, not the person in distress.

Coastguard’s vision is that “with our support, everyone can enjoy Aotearoa’s New Zealand’s waters safely and with confidence”, with the mission of “saving lives on the water.”[13] Across Coastguard’s three pillars – Search and Rescue, Communications and Education & Community Engagement, the organisation has three key strategic goals:[14] Volunteers largely make up the organisation, alongside paid staff.

Volunteers undertake a large number of different roles within units, both on-shore and as SAR crew.

This is more stringent than just a regular criminal convictions check as crew may work with vulnerable people.

There are many roles on-board, including helmsperson, navigator / radio operator, observer and skipper.

These roles involve contributing to a Unit by applying skills in administration, organising, planning, repairs, working with figures, social media, or general support, both on and off the water during rescue missions.

This role requires the crew member to hold a Maritime VHF Radio Operator Certificate.

The role involves logging trip reports from water users, communicating vital information over marine radio, handling public calls for marine emergencies and on-water assistance, providing a communication link between Coastguard shore teams and on-water rescue crews, and working closely with other agencies like the Police, Ambulance, Fire, and the local Harbourmaster.

This role is especially important when working with other agencies, in which case the Coordinated Information Management System (CIMS) is used.

Crew members are provided with a distinctive red uniform that is suitable for challenging marine conditions.

It also can provide tidal information and allow you to plot locations on a map for memory, for an example fishing spots, etc.

As part of a water safety campaign, Coastguard conducts a programme where old, and oftentimes unserviceable, lifejackets can be replaced at a lower cost than the retail price.