A newly amalgamated group will be patrolling the Western Bay of Plenty shoreline to make sure Bay of Plenty locals and visitors are enjoying their holiday break.

The iLine Construction Western Bay of Plenty Search & Rescue Squad is a group of surf lifesaving specialist search and rescue volunteers from four Surf Lifesaving Clubs along the BOP coastline (Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service, Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club, Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club and Pukehina Surf Rescue).

'They are working together to ensure all the beaches along our entire coast have specialist search and rescue coverage regardless of the time of day or year,” says a statement from Surf Lifesaving NZ.

All squad members are volunteers and are Surf Lifeguards from four local clubs.

'By combining forces the area has a larger talent pool to draw upon which will mean quicker response times, high-quality experienced responders, extensive area coverage, and better ability to scale up if situations require.”

Local company iLine Construction has come on board as the major sponsor of the squad.

Their contribution will support the squad with vital equipment and training.

iLine Construction is a local construction company, specialising in Project Planning, Pre-construction, Design, Cost Management and Construction.

'The funding we have received from iLine Construction is absolutely massive to us and hugely appreciated,” says squad coordinator Stu Lowth.

'Our team are all volunteers giving our time to help others. To have extra funds available to upskill our members and to provide vital rescue equipment so we can help others is awesome.”

'The after-hours coverage of the coastline that we now have with this call-out squad complements what our lifeguards already do when the flags are up on our local beaches so that regionally we can provide 24-hour coverage of all areas of the coast from Mt Maunganui down to Whakatane,” says Surf Lifesaving Eastern Region Lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell.

iLine Construction director Paul Hammond says they are a local company, and are proud to be able to help our community where we can.

'If our money can help save lives, then that's what matters.”

The volunteers in the iLine Construction Western Bay of Plenty Search & Rescue squad are volunteering their time throughout the summer holiday period to help people in trouble and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

While the recent inclement weather has meant a quieter time on the beach, the squad were exceptionally busy earlier in the holiday period.

On January 29, they supplied additional volunteers to support paid lifeguards undertake 40 rescues and a further 40 assists at Mount Manganui.

People are asked to please ensure they keep themselves and their families safe in the water and let volunteers have a break these holidays.

Choose a lifeguarded beach, swim between the flags and check the conditions on www.safeswim.org.nz before deciding to swim, and if in doubt, stay out.

If you do see anyone in trouble in the water, call 111 and ask for Police who will activate surf lifesaving response teams.

For further information on how to keep yourself safe in the surf this summer, you can find the SLSNZ surf safety messaging on the following link https://www.surflifesaving.org.nz/stay-safe/beach-safety-messages/beach-basics