SurfAid was founded in Gisborne in 2000 and although small in number of employees, New Zealand remains the heart of the SurfAid group of affiliates.  The NZ operation holds the original Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Mentawai Health Department under which our Health & Development Programmes are authorized.

All SurfAid affiliates share the same mission:

The mission of SurfAid International, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, is to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

Health & Development Programmes

SurfAid New Zealand has been instrumental in developing significant government support for field programmes.  Following lengthy evaluation and compliance processes, NZAID as represented by:

• ADAF (Asian Development Assistance Fund)
• KOHA-PICD (Partnership for International Community Development) (ex-VASS)
• Bi-lateral agreement with Indonesia

provide funding assistance for the following programmes:

• Mentawai Community-Based Health Programme
• Nias Community-Based Health Programme
• Malaria Free Mentawais

TSUNAMI & EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

2009 Padang Earthquake

SurfAid was appointed by NZAID as their lead agency in West Sumatra after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake stuck on 30 September 2009.  

The quake affected an estimated 1.2 million people, killing 1,117 and injuring 3,900.  More than 200,000 houses were severely or moderately damaged, along with 1,078 schools, and only 50 per cent of health facilities were operational.

Within a month, SurfAid had distributed 1,721 tool kits, 2,092 shelter kits, 939 tarpaulins, 278 tents, 501 hygiene kits, 212 sleeping mats, 791 blankets and 260 kilograms of nails in the districts of Agam and Pasam Barat.

After being assigned by the UN coordination agency to assess the Mentawai and Telo island groups, SurfAid completed rapid assessment, emergency relief, crises management and early recovery activities there.

While trauma was high within Padang City and many of the surrounding areas, all of the Mentawai and Telo island communities survived any human injury and infrastructural damage was low. This information was quickly relayed to UNOCHA and was critical in providing the first valid source of information from the islands.  This allowed other emergency response organizations to continue focusing on assisting communities hit hard on mainland West Sumatra.

SurfAid also collaborated with the Mentawai District Government to develop Crisis Communication Posts (POSKO) in both Padang and Tuapejat.

In Padang, we set up a Psychosocial Support program, ‘Tampek Mangadu’ (‘A Shoulder to Lean On’ in the local dialect) which was initially funded by NZAID. Working with psychologists from Aceh and Java, and a team including psychology students from Padang’s Andalas University, the program was one of, if not the first, international NGO psychosocial programs to get fully into gear in Padang city.  The program was particularly aimed at children to help them resume a normal life and make them feel safe after the trauma of the earthquake.

We also implemented an Emergency Preparedness “roadshow” in the coastal communities of West Sumatra to raise awareness of natural disasters and to encourage the design and implementation of local disaster risk reduction plans.

2007 Mentawai Earthquakes

NZAID also contributed financially to the Mentawai relief operation that SurfAid conducted after two major earthquakes struck the islands in September 2007.  SurfAid delivered shelter, tool and hygiene kits, servicing a base population of 47,500 people.

2004 Asian Tsunami

Following the tragic tsunami of 26 December 2004, immediate support from the New Zealand public and corporate donors permitted SurfAid New Zealand, who were already operating in Indonesia, to deliver specific aid to the stricken areas within reach.  As funding flowed in from the New Zealand public, NZAID matched contributions 2:1, enabling SurfAid  to extend its emergency coverage and deliver aid to northern islands including Nias, Simeulue and the Banyaks.

SurfAid became one of New Zealand’s principal partners in both the tsunami and subsequent March 28 Nias earthquake.  Miss Helen Clark, New Zealand's then prime minister, said SurfAid was “tremendously helpful at the time of the Tsunami” and that New Zealand was “fortunate that we do have SurfAid pretty well on the spot after yesterday’s quake”.

GOVERNANCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Phil Dreifuss – Chairman
• Dr Steve Hathaway – Secretary
• Tony Walsh - Treasurer
• Pete Force
• Dr Dave Jenkins
• Harry Hill
• Viv Hill

ACCOUNTABILITY

Registered in January 2000, SurfAid New Zealand is a not-for-profit incorporated society.

SurfAid is committed to transparency and accountability, reaching out to the general public in a number of ways:

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS (AGM's)

Held annually, this public forum invites supporters to a presentation by senior management detailing results for the year, and calls for questions and input from those attending.

2005 AGM -  7 May 2005
2006 AGM -  17 June 2006
2007 AGM -  24 November 2007
2008 AGM -  20 November 2008
2009 AGM - 22-23 November 2009

Website and eNewsletters

SurfAid is accountable and available to the general public who contribute to our cause via our website and enewsletters.

This is an open way for the public to contact us with questions, comments or requests, directly via: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Fundraisers:

• Schools Programme Fundraisers
• Jack Johnson concerts – Napier & New Plymouth
• "SurfAid – The Music" CD
• SurfFest 08: Amateur Surf Film Festival – Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne & Dunedin

Corporate Partnerships:

• Air New Zealand
• Billabong NZ
• Wild Rock Wines
• LOOP

Management:

• Phil Dreifuss, Legal Counsel & Administrator

Accountants:  Coates & Associates, Gisborne

Contact Information

SurfAid International NZ Incorporated
PO Box 55
Gisborne, New Zealand
E This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
T  +64 (06) 867 1379
F  +64 (06) 867 7473