Six lifeguards based in the Eastern Region will be honoured with special service awards at tonight's Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence.

Receiving Service Awards will be Mount Maunganui's Damian Munro, Painaui's David Boersen, and Waihi Beach's Andrew Cochrane and Christiaan Maarhuis, while Mount Maunganui's Kent Jarman ONZM and Whakatāne's Phil Morgan will both receive their 50 Year Badge.

Mount Maungnaui lifeguard and Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit Kent Jarman is one of six Eastern Region lifeguards to be honoured at this year's Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence on Saturday. File Photo.

In total, 38 lifeguards will receive Service, Distinguished Service, 50 Year Badges and Life Membership awards in recognition of their dedication to surf lifesaving and their local communities.

SLSNZ chief executive Paul Dalton says the annual awards are a fantastic opportunity to honour all of the dedicated members who have given so much to their local communities over the years.

The SLSNZ Service Award recognises outstanding service to surf lifesaving at club, regional, or national level over a period of years.

Holders of the Distinguished Service Award have continued to give outstanding service to Surf Life Saving at club, regional, or national level over a further period of years.

While the 50 Year Badge is given to members who have dedicated 50 years of service to surf lifesaving within New Zealand and Life Memberships are awarded to those members who have been active members for at least 25 years and who have provided exemplary service at a national level.

The 2016 Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence is taking place at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland tonight.

SERVICE AWARD:

• Michael Bassett-Foss, Waimarama
• Jess Bennett, Ocean Beach Kiwi
• Shane Bennett, Ocean Beach Kiwi
• David Boersen, Pauanui
• Tom Burgess, Orewa
• Denys Carpenter, Pacific
• Andrew Cochrane, Waihi Beach
• Kate Dench, Palmerston North
• Patrick Flynn, Sunset Beach
• Phil Harman, Waimarama
• Fraser Harvey, Karekare
• Neil Hubbard, Pacific
• Mark Jenkinson, Ocean Beach Kiwi
• Mark Johnston, Orewa
• Brent Lane, Karekare
• Christiaan Maarhuis, Waihi Beach
• Alec Mackay, Palmerston North
• John McLarin, Karekare
• Harley McLaughlin, Waimarama
• Debbie Moodie, Westshore
• Damian Munro, Mt Maunganui
• Harold Pearse, Waimarama
• Russell Philp, Fitzroy
• Shaun Sayer, Foxton
• Matt Wade, Karekare
• Kubi Witten-Hannah, Karekare

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD:

• Seth McPhee, Brighton

LIFE MEMBERSHIP:

• Curly (Royce) Evans, Foxton

50 YEAR BADGE:

• George Imlach, Lyall Bay
• Kent Jarman ONZM, Mt Maunganui
• Gregory Larsen, Ocean Beach Kiwi
• Phil Morgan, Whakatane
• Valerie Morrison, Mairangi Bay
• Robert Pitcairn, East End
• Brian Quirk, Westshore
• Patricia (Trish) Reid, Muriwai
• Graeme Trevor, North Beach
• John Williams, Opunake