There’s certainly no shortage of good sorts here in New Zealand Police, but Senior Sergeant Rod Salt is what you might call an ultimate good sort.
If he's not at work, you’ll most likely find Salty - as he is appropriately known - at the beach.
For years he has committed hours and hours every week, after work and at weekends, to coaching youngsters in surf lifesaving – including many of our staff’s kids.
An award-winning Mairangi Bay coach, Salty brings 35 years of experience, a ton of passion and lots of energy to his coaching programme, five days a week.
Salty, a Waitematā Professional Conduct Senior by day, says the beach is his happy place.
“Coaching fills my cup," he says. "At the end of each long day at work, having these great young people who are so full of energy is inspiring."
An indication of just how much Salty gives to his to lifesaving and his community is that he was awarded Surf Lifesaving New Zealand's 2024 Service Award.
“Originally I coached my own children and their peers but, once they moved to senior realm, there was quite a gap in junior coaching," he says.
“About 13 years ago I started a small after-school programme a couple of days a week and soon had more and more kids wanting to come. Currently I coach Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from to meet demand.
“The sessions are about developing the skills of kids aged 10–14 in every aspect of the youth lifeguarding. It is about providing a safe, fun and challenging environment for the kids - being at the beach and helping these youngsters develop their skills in what can be frightening environments, all the while learning important life skills along the way."
Inspector Aron McKeown is one of a number of parents of Salty's current squad. "Salty is an absolute legend," he says. "He gives a phenomenal amount to our community, supporting and mentoring our next generation.
"The hours of his own time that he puts in is quite extraordinary.
"The kids adore him. He has such a natural ability to connect with them, which they respond to and respect."
Salty also helps develop former Mairangi Bay Junior Development Squad members as coaches, providing a new stream for the club, and runs a 'coach the coaches' programme, enabling volunteer parent coaches and helpers with no lifeguarding skills to coach their children in their age groups.
In his spare time, he also belongs to a Surf Lifesaving governance committee for Surf Lifesaving Northern Region, which oversees the region’s Junior programme.
“One of the most satisfying things is to see ex-Junior Development Squad kids now competing in the international arena representing New Zealand, like Zoe Crawford in Surf Lifesaving or Rosie Davis in stand-up paddleboarding,” he says.
“To see these young adults who I have helped in some small way to stay in sport of any kind is pretty cool.”