News and Notices

Coastguard Pete wins award


Congratulations to our Emergency Manager Pete Kara on receiving an excellence award from the region’s Coastguard unit.

Pete Kara Award sml3Pete recently took home a trophy for being the Central Region’s ‘Communications & Incident Management Volunteer of the Year 2017’.

When he is not looking after Nelson Marlborough Health’s emergency response preparedness he is out on the water with the Coastguard helping to save lives.
“I am a boatie myself and it is good to give back to the community,” he says. “It fits nicely with my day job - and I get to drive a really fast boat.”

Pete’s commitment to the Coastguard extends beyond training two nights a week with the local unit. He also sits on the Central Region board and the Coastguard New Zealand national board which means he is away for a couple of weekends each month on Coastguard business.

Pete was nominated by the local team but says the award is an acknowledgment of the whole unit.

“There are so many other volunteers that give their time and commitment out on the water and are there when things go wrong, “ he says. “While it is nice to get the recognition, there is also nothing as rewarding as returning someone safely home to their family.”

Pete was also in the team that won the 2016 Coastguard New Zealand Award of Excellence for the ‘Coastguard Rescue of the Year’ involving a missing waka-ama paddler.