The Kaikoura Lifeboat Institute was started in 1968 by a group of boating enthusiasts and became an incorporated society in 1975. Joining Coastguard the name was changed in 1975 to Kaikoura Volunteer Coastguard Association and then in 2007 to Coastguard Kaikoura Incorporated.

Our first boat was an ex-RNLI F69 lifeboat which was replaced by a 6.8m Naiad - Pacifica Rescue. In 2006 we started fundraising for our current 11.2m Naiad jet boat which we took delivery of in 2007.

Our building was built by volunteers in 1975 and in 2009 we extensively altered it taking out the old boatshed and vessel slip creating the Mike Kennedy Training Room in honour of Mike - a long term volunteer and our Training Officer who passed away. The penguins who have long made their home under our building were given new homes and a viewing area was also incorporated.

We built a new slipway in 2012 which was extended in 2017 after the Kaikoura Earthquakes of 2016 left it high and dry. The channel was dredged at that time due to sea uplift. Fortunately our building was not badly damaged and is now safer from storms and high tides which were starting to attack the foundations. We celebrated 50 years of service to our community at our AGM in September 2018.