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Story: Lifesaving and surfing

An early lifesaving team

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An early lifesaving team

Pictured are members of one of New Zealand’s first lifesaving clubs, formed at New Brighton, Christchurch, in 1910. By providing a voluntary service, the clubs acquired respectability, and made people more confident about swimming in the sea.

Using this item

Canterbury Museum, Lyttelton Times Collection

Reference: 1979.91.26

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Lifesaving and surfing – Origins of surf lifesaving, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7358/an-early-lifesaving-team (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009.