Surf Lifesaving New Zealand peer supporter Madeleine Taylor. Photo: Bella Craig
Surf lifeguards have been served up plenty of jellyfish stings, injuries and rescues this summer. So far, patrol teams have rescued more than 880 people off Aotearoa's coasts.
Lifeguards are often placed in stressful situations from as young as 14 years old, and research shows surf lifeguards are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, just like other emergency staff.
A peer support programme introduced in 2021 aims to help with debriefing and give follow up support to staff.
Madeleine Taylor has been with Surf Lifesaving New Zealand for over 30 years and during that time she has seen its role expand beyond sea rescues.
She is a member of the Riversdale Surf Lifesaving Club which is in a remote part of the south east coast of the Wairarapa.
The nearest hospital is an hours drive away, so if an incident occurs within the community - often the surf lifeguards are first on the scene.
Riversdale Surf Lifesaving Club. Photo: Bella Craig
"It's absolutely usual when you've been confronted with something, to have a moment, and that moment might be tears, or it might be being cranky or it might be not sleeping."
"Usually what happens over time is that will dissipate. But then when you have trauma, on top of trauma, on top of trauma and you don't find a way to manage it, that can come back to bite you."
The role of being a surf lifeguard in Aotearoa had expanded over the past few years.
They now were first responders in natural disasters, assisted search and rescue teams and responded to incidents in communities.
Because surf lifeguards' mental health was affected like other first responders, they were also at a higher risk of anxiety and depression.
The peer support programme - where experienced lifeguards started to offer extra support to younger guards - was aimed at helping with these issues.
Taylor was one of those peer supporters.
"Say for example something was to happen. You can't really talk about it outside surf."
"Your mates are all going to a party. You've just had an event you're not feeling kind of, jolly, jolly, and they think you're a bit of a pain in the neck, so it can have a social impact."
During Cyclone Gabrielle, Taylor was sent north to Hawke's Bay, and was able to help lifeguards who had experienced trauma.
She supported lifeguards, search and rescue teams and other first responders.
"Being up there, working out what it was that people might need."
"It was supporting not only our people, but also there was some search and rescue people who required some additional support."
James Quinn has been lifeguarding out at Riversdale for seven years.
His job was highly rewarding, but also took a physical and emotional toll, he said.
"Being lifeguards especially you start when you're only 14, you can be exposed to some pretty serious stuff and it's not easy to talk about. Sometimes it's pretty hard."
Riversdale Surf Lifeguards with James Quinn (right). Photo: Bella Craig
He said he had been approached by the peer support system which helped him after tough experiences while on duty.
"They always make an effort to kind of get in touch with you. There's no onus on you that you have to go out and seek it out."
Although lifeguards could start from a young age, he said they were highly trained and capable of dealing with a range of situations.
Previously Surf Lifesaving New Zealand sent counsellors to the beach to help with debriefing after an incident had occurred.
That method was controversial and seen as unhelpful by staff - so it was changed to the new peer support system that sees lifeguards receive support from older lifeguards that they know personally.
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