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Story: Lifesaving and surfing

Surf lifesaving carnival

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Film footage from a 1949 lifesaving carnival at Lyall Bay reveals the popularity of such events, which attracted huge crowds. The belt and line rescue competition shows teams paying out the line as the beltmen swim out through the surf, and then carrying in the rescued swimmers prior to the final stage, a demonstration of resuscitation.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 397

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Lifesaving and surfing – Surf lifesaving develops, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/7363/surf-lifesaving-carnival (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009.