Lifeguard of the Year Sam Kau credits Auckland Council Pools and Leisure for turning his life around.
The Ōtara Pools and Leisure Centre employee was named top lifeguard at the New Zealand Recreation Association’s Aquatics Industry Awards.
Life-changing opportunity
But life hasn’t always been so good for Sam, who is of Māori and Tongan descent.
He was in trouble with the law before starting a foundation training course that initially led to summer employment at the centre and, eight years later, he’s still there.
“I’ve developed so many attributes, like accountability, due to being here,” says Sam.
“This centre and the people here have changed my life for the better. If it wasn’t for this job, I’d probably be behind bars or something.”
BoxFit underwater
One of the 32-year-old’s major projects has been developing a 'hydro fight' class, which involves BoxFit exercises in the water.
“My community is a community of big people. Bringing them into my BoxFit class in the water gets them confident so they can move into normal BoxFit on land and then into the gym.”
Undertaking further study
In an effort to progress his career further, Sam is now studying towards an aquatics leadership qualification and is currently an acting team leader.
Sam says it was a thrill picking up the prize at the awards dinner in Wellington.
“It was unreal. It didn’t really hit me until some of the guys said, ‘it’s you’ that I went up to get the award.”
Auckland Council Leisure Manager Rob McGee says the whole team is proud of Sam.
“Sam is a fantastic employee who has the interests of his Ōtara community at heart."
“It is great to hear Auckland Council Pools and Leisure has had such a positive impact on his life."
"His Lifeguard of the Year award is a testament to the progress he has made and we congratulate him on his success.”
