Temporary container building helps surf club to save lives

Three shipping containers have come to the rescue of Kariaotahi Surf Lifesaving Club on the rugged west coast of Auckland.

With the 50-year-old clubrooms at Kariaotahi Beach in disrepair, Royal Wolf worked with the club to create a temporary container solution made from three 40-foot units. The container clubrooms will stay in place until October 2025 when the club’s new facility is due to be completed.

“It’s been a long journey to get to this point and we’re looking forward to the new clubrooms being finished, but until then the containers will do a great job and they’re ideal for what we need,” says Jim Coe, co-chair of the Kariaotahi Surf Life Saving Club building committee.

Made up of two 40-foot High Cube storage containers on the base level, with a 40-foot office container stacked on top, the structure will provide both storage and operational facilities for the club.

“Containers are robust to withstand the extreme elements we get out here on the coast and on a practical level they meet our storage and administration needs by providing a safe and secure place for our gear to be stored.

“Because they can be stacked the top container also provides a great vantage point for the team to keep an eye on the beach and the area we’re patrolling.”

Surf patrol key to saving lives

Kariaotahi Beach is one of New Zealand’s most dangerous beaches. However, because of its natural beauty, and the significant population growth and ongoing development in the region, it is a popular destination making a surf lifesaving club patrol essential.

Two local businesses, construction company HEB and Kahawai Point Development, have contributed to the container hire cost to help fund the temporary container clubrooms.

Mr Coe says the new clubrooms will help to ensure club membership is maintained and the Kariaotahi team is able to make sure people are safe when they visit the beach.

“The commitment from our club members, the wider community, and local businesses like HEB and Kahawai Point Development, has made the replacement club rooms a reality.”