Watching black and white television images of people surfing sparked a passion inside Ian Godfrey that’s seen him devote much of his life to keeping people safe in the water.
That work has culminated in the east Auckland resident being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to surf lifesaving and water safety education in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List.
“It started from an early age,” the Farm Cove local told the Times.
“Back in the mid-to-late 1960s I was watching black and white television and saw guys running around in the United States and Hawaii surfing.
“I was probably eight to 10 years old at the time and I thought it was great, I was hooked.
“Coming from a bit of a water background, my dad was a keen sailor and swimmer, so was my grandmother, she taught me to swim, so I had that affinity with the water.”
The award citation states Godfrey’s been a surf lifesaver and advocate for drowning prevention and water safety in Auckland for more than 50 years, joining the Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club as a lifeguard in 1971 at the age of 14.
He’s held numerous positions on the club’s board including patrol captain, secretary, registrar and president, and there’s been no drownings at Waipu Cove during his time as a member.
From 2010-2016 Godfrey served as director of Water Safe Auckland, leading several major initiatives to promote greater awareness of drowning prevention and water safety in the region.
“He served on the New Zealand Standards Committees for Swimming Pool Construction and Swimming Pool Fencing in 2006 and 2008 respectively,” the citation states.
“As chair of the Surf Lifesaving Northern Region Board (SLSNR) from 2015-2018, he spearheaded a capital works funding programme to re-establish several lifesaving clubs.
“Godfrey has been a member of the regional honours and awards committee of the SLSNR since 2019.
“[He received] Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s 50-year Service Recognition Award in 2021.”
Over the years Godfrey has been involved in numerous rescues of people who had got into difficulty while swimming at the beach and he’s still contacted by some who feel grateful toward him.
He says he was “quite taken aback” and felt emotional to learn of the King’s Birthday award.
It was a relief to be able to tell his family and friends about it.
“I was pretty excited on Monday morning, I must admit, but also apprehensive at the same time.”
