• It is a volunteer organisation with charitable status.
• The volunteers live in and around Turangi and are supported by employers and family who encourage their participation.
• Being based at Tokaanu Marina at the southern end of lake Taupo allows a rapid response to "save life at sea" and aid vessels that require assistance anywhere on Lake Taupo, Lake Rotoaira and Lake Otamangakau.
• Coastguard Turangi is affiliated to Coastguard New Zealand and is a response unit within the NZ Coastguard Eastern Region.

• Preventing loss of life on the water..... Boating Education, Radio Communications.
• Saving lives on the water.... .... ..... .... . 24/7 Search and Rescue service and Radio Communications.

It is manned by over 20 trained and qualified trained volunteer search and rescue personnel.
It is funded primarily by Members and Sponsors, being backed by its board of management and over 130 members.A Service Level agreement with government attracts a small amount of funding.