Surf lifeguards say they've been told they should not have responded to the calls for help during Cyclone Gabrielle if they didn't have the right gear.
They saved hundreds of people, but ruined their personal wetsuits in the contaminated floodwaters, in the Auckland floods too in January.
Surf Lifesaving NZ says its struggle to get them replaced - and to get hold of better gear called dry suits - is a glaring example of ad hoc rescue systems not keeping pace with the rising threat of flooding.
Phil Pennington reports
