At the foot of Mauao, where golden sand meets the Pacific, sits one of New Zealand’s most iconic surf lifesaving clubs. The Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service (MMLS) isn’t just a club—it’s an iconic community institution. With a proud history stretching back to 1929, the “Mounties” have been safeguarding locals and visitors for generations. From pioneering the country’s first nippers programme to producing world-class lifeguards and athletes, the Mount has always been at the forefront of surf lifesaving innovation.
Every year, around 1.2 to 1.4 million people pass the club’s doors. Patrols run some of the longest hours in the country, and the volunteer emergency squad is on call year-round. “It’s like a second home for a lot of our people,” says Club Administrator, Selina, who’s been at the helm of the club’s admin for the past four years. “We’ve got members from all over—Tauranga, Waikato, Auckland—anyone who wants to be part of the Mountie whānau is welcome.”
Life Before Friendly Manager
Like many volunteer-run organisations, admin at the club used to be a juggling act. As the only full-time staff member, Selina found herself answering emails at night, working weekends, and balancing to support a range of club volunteer groups with no fixed schedules. “You’ve got to deal with so many different needs and roles—everything from patrol rosters to junior surf registrations—often all at once,” she says.
Selina had used other sports and booking software before, so when the club trialled Friendly Manager shortly after she started, she knew instantly it was a fit. “It’s just intuitive. You don’t have to dig through manuals. You can get in and get things done.”
Choosing the Right Fit
When the club explored other tools, the main goal was to tidy up communication. “We wanted something that made it easier to get consistent information out to members, and to make it clear to members who they can go to and how.” After trying other options that felt clunky, Friendly Manager stood out.
“It’s simple, it’s local, and the pricing’s transparent—no add-ons, no surprises. Plus, the comms tools really work for us. And with the two-way Xero integration, our Finance Manager doesn’t need to touch a spreadsheet to reconcile invoices. That’s saved a huge amount of time. It’s also reassuring to know the data is always there in both Friendly Manager and Xero.”
Looking Ahead: The New App
Now, with Friendly Manager’s mobile app on the horizon, Selina is excited for the next step. At the moment, club communications are scattered across Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats, and more than two dozen Messenger threads. “It’s so easy to mix up personal and club messages,” she says. “With the app, we’ll finally have one central place for everything. Also from a parent’s perspective, I’m really looking forward to managing all of the clubs my daughter’s in without the chaos.“We are excited to see the exciting developments and improvements coming soon from Friendly Manager, as they respond to ever-changing club and members' needs.”
Features That Make the Difference
For Selina, one of Friendly Manager’s biggest wins is the member profiles. “Members can log in, check their invoices, see attendance records, and update their details. It’s safe, it’s accessible, and it means less chasing from me.”
Advice to Other Clubs
Her advice to other surf clubs is simple: “Give it a crack. You’ll find it’s worth it. Having one system for everything—website, comms, registrations—makes you look professional and makes onboarding volunteers so much easier. In a small team, you need to be able to pick things up when someone’s away, and Friendly Manager makes that possible.”
Nearly a century in, the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service is still innovating—both in the surf and behind the scenes. With Friendly Manager helping keep the admin sorted, the MMLS team can focus on what they do best: keeping people safe, building community, and inspiring the next generation of lifeguards.
