Warrington Surf Life Saving Club Opens New Facility
23 Feb 2026
Warrington Surf Life Saving Club officially opened its new lifeguard building on 17 January 2026, marking an important milestone for beach safety in the local community.
The purpose-built two-storey facility replaces the club's 40-year-old A-frame structure and includes a lifeguard tower, observation deck, first aid room and modern operational facilities to support the club's vital beach safety work.
The opening celebration featured speeches from Isabella Aldrich, Chair of Warrington Surf Life Saving Club, mana whenua, Kelvyn Eglinton, Chair of Surf Life Saving New Zealand, with Naomi Ingram as MC for the event.
The club is serving a growing coastal community that has seen increased residential development and the establishment of a large Freedom Camping ground. With over 100 members under the age of 14 and a multi-generational volunteer base, the club provides essential lifeguarding services alongside beach education programmes and surf safety courses for local schools.
The new facility was made possible through the dedication of the club's Building Committee -Wayne Fa'saega, Mark Hastie, Maaike Duncan, Charlotte Becconsall-Ryan, Phillip Clayton, Rachel Ozanne and Isabella Aldrich - and the combined support of Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Otago Community Trust, Alexander McMillan Trust, Harry J Wilson Trust, One Foundation and Oceana Gold Macraes Operation and the many other organisations, trusts and businesses. Main contractor Stevenson Williams delivered the construction.
Mark Hastie, Club Captain, noted the facility will "significantly enhance the capacity of our club to deliver lifesaving services, providing our volunteers with the facilities they need to perform their duties effectively, support the development of our junior members to become the lifeguards of the future, and continue to deliver programmes to support and promote water safety."
The building will serve the Warrington community for generations to come, supporting the club's work in public safety, youth development and community education.
