> > > I suppose you know that some of us would pay big bucks to do what you do as part of your civic duty.
> > > Howard
> >
> > I know. That's one of the best things about it.
>
> B-G, is your Coast Guard work a volunteer job, or does New Zealand have a mandatory military stint?
>
> -Faux "just curious" Pas

Yes, it's volunteer. The RNZCG is entirely volunteer because, since we're a heavily maritime nation with the highest proportion of pleasure boats in the world, and a major fishing industry, and a pretty appalling rate of deaths by drowning, the government doesn't reckon we need a paid professional Coastguard like everywhere else. ;-)

So all the rescue services here - boats, planes, helicopters, buildings, radio services etc - are funded through donations, charitable trusts, and public membership fees. (Boaties who want to support Coastguard can join up as financial members for $66 a year. Search & rescue crew have to be financial members, of course, so technically I pay $66 a year to work for them. Heh.)

That should answer the question, but as an aside, we don't have any military service requirements here either.