The vision of the organisation is ""No boaties’ lives lost at sea"" with the mission ""To be the ‘go to’ people for marine safety, education and search and rescue services"". The focuses for Coastguard New Zealand currently are:  A large number of volunteers make up the organisation, alongside a small number of paid staff. In 2016, there was 2235 volunteers and 23 paid staff, made up of 13 Coastguard staff and 10 Coastguard Boating Education staff. The organisation is made up of a large number of different roles, both on-shore and as SAR crew. As a charity, Coastguard requires volunteer crew in order to continue their operations. Many rural units need crew now, with some urban areas operating a wait list instead. Interested people can apply on the How do I become a Coastguard volunteer? website. Applicants need to pass a "police vet". This is more stringent than just a regular criminal convictions check as crew may work with vulnerable people. Units require people to attend search and rescue events as they may arise. Involves being a crew member onboard a Coastguard Rescue Vessel (CRV). There are many roles on-board, including helmsperson, navigator / radio operator, observer and skipper. Involves being an air observer or tactical officer. The air patrol typically involves small planes. Units require people on-shore to maintain the operations of the unit. This involves operating radios and managing incidents, among other things. Communicates with vessels at sea, including rescues vessels (as well as the public). This role requires the crew member to hold a Maritime VHF Radio Operator Certificate. The role invol  Coordinates search and rescues operations. The role is suited to someone who has previous people management experience. This role is especially important when working with other agencies, in which case the Coordinated Information Management System (CIMS) is used. Plans and manages the delivery of training to the unit and ensures the crew remains competent. This role also involving assessing crew and reporting results. Manages unit compliance with the Health and Safety in Employment Act, as well as the Maritime Transport Act and the general Health and Safety needs of the unit. The role encompasses the vessel, buildings and crew & may also involve maintaining relationships with WorkSafe New Zealand and Maritime New Zealand. Manages on-going repairs and maintenance for the units buildings, vessels and vehicles. Represent the crew members to the board and maintains the crews welfare. The individual units of the Coastguard each have a treasurer, as well as a number of other roles.