Cash-strapped charity Coastguard New Zealand believe lives will be put at risk if it's forced to pay a levy to the government.
The coastal search and rescue charity needs $20 million a year to keep its patrol vessels on the water. It receives 12.5 percent of that from the government and fundraises the rest.
But as of this week there's a new bill in it's in-tray. Coastguard New Zealand has been asked to pay the maritime levy, which it calculates will cost it another $20,000 a year.
Insight's Teresa Cowie has been out on Lyttelton Harbour talking to Coastguard volunteers.
