Bill Goodwin, until recently New Zealand’s oldest active surf lifeguard, has passed away at the age of 96. His dedication to surf lifesaving spanned nearly five decades, leaving an indelible mark on Whiritoa and the wider surf lifesaving community.
His son, Craig, shared the news on behalf of the Goodwin family to the tight-knit community of Whiritoa, saying:
“Evening all. you who know my Dad, Bill Goodwin,
It is with a heavy heart that we, the Goodwin family, let you know that Bill passed peacefully from this world at 4:30 am this morning, 27 February 2025.
Over the day, we have had a lot to consider and juggle in deciding how best to celebrate Bill’s life. To give the family the time and space we need, we are organising a memorial at the Whiritoa Surf Club on the 15th of March. The day will begin mid-afternoon on that Saturday and run into the evening. We hope all those who want to say goodbye will join us for stories, speeches, food, and an ale or two. More detail to come.” Craig Goodwin, on the Whiritoa Facebook Group
A lifetime of saving lives
In 2017, at 88 years old, Bill was still patrolling between the flags at Whiritoa on the Coromandel Peninsula, showing no signs of slowing down. His journey into surf lifesaving began at the age of 48—an age when many would shy away from such a physically demanding pursuit. But for Bill, there was no question: he wanted to be able to help others in the water.
“Eventually, I passed my 400m swim, and I was on my way to becoming a lifeguard,” he recalled in a 2017 interview to RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan.
Not long after qualifying, he and his fellow surf lifesavers pulled 25 people from the water in a single day—just one example of the countless lives he helped save.
Building a community
Bill’s impact on surf lifesaving extended beyond the beach. In 1973, he played a key role in founding the Whiritoa Surf Lifesaving Club, a place that became a second home for lifeguards and community members alike.
“The guards really have to feel like that building is their second home,” Bill once said. “Once you get that spirit into them, they don’t look back, they just flourish.” he said in a 2017 interview to RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan.
His passion for mentoring younger lifeguards was evident. He loved training new recruits, passing on his skills, and, when they were old enough, sharing a well-earned beer with them.
“It’s a marvellous feeling to meet up with young people, help train them, and have the odd beer with them when they get older… just a wonderful feeling.” 2017 interview to RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan.
A life lived to the fullest
Even into his late 80s, Bill maintained a daily swimming routine, sometimes covering a kilometre in the morning and another in the evening. He credited his fitness for keeping him active in the water for so long.
“If you take a week off, it takes about a fortnight to harden up again,” he said in 2017. “I had a swim down from the surf club to Clark Island at Whangamata yesterday, and look—I felt really, really good.”
Bill Goodwin’s legacy lives on—not just in the lives he saved, but in the generations of surf lifeguards he trained, the club he helped build, and the spirit of service he instilled in everyone who knew him.
On March 15th, his friends, family, and fellow lifeguards will gather at Whiritoa Surf Club to honour a man who spent nearly 50 years keeping New Zealand’s beaches safe. A legend, a mentor, and a lifeguard to the end—Bill Goodwin will be dearly missed.
— Background is based on a 2017 interview by RNZ’s Kathryn Ryan.
Whiritoa is small village located on the east coast of the North Island, lying between Whangmata (to the north) and Waihi Beach (to the south).
