Search and Rescue

Search and Rescue for those missing or injured in difficult country is a function of the Police, but relies very heavily upon volunteeers in circumstances where police resources are inadequate.  SAR operations cover not only those lost in the bush or mountains but also such incidents as plane crashes, cave, lake and seashore rescues and missing people in urban open spaces. 

Daily Post

Background                                                                                                                      

A national Search and Rescue organisation began nearly seventy years ago with a structure that with progressive amendments still serves well today.  Formerly a sub-committee of the Federated Mountain Clubs looked after coordination and the other matters required to ensure an efficient operational organisation.  Later on a separate national committee was formed to administer the infrastructure of SAR.  It was made up from representatives of the FMC and relevant Government Departments and provided the voluntary organisation with sound financial and technical backing .  In 1994 a new organisation, New Zealand Land Search and Rescue (Inc) took over primary responsibility for volunteer SAR from the committee.

The Club has always provided personnel for searching and this tradition continues today, despite the increasing difficulty in obtaining volunteers during working hours.   Although the Police have responsibility for SAR, where judged necessary they will call on the volunteer organisation. Usually they start with advisers appointed by NZLSAR and the local committee.  The advisors will recommend a Field Search Controller, who will be the person responsible for managing the search.  At the same time search teams and other field personnel are arranged through callout contacts who are responsible for providing teams from their organisations.

A search team is generally made up of three or four people, one of whom will be the team leader.   Experience may vary, but all are required to have a good grade of fitness, bush experience and equipment.  Increasingly, all team members are being expected to have completed training modules prescribed by NZLSAR.  As well as the search teams a well-organised search will have an equal number of base personnel who provide logistics support and carry out a wide range of administrative tasks.

Communications between the search field base and the teams are vital.  Support is usually provided by members of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications or AREC.  Ideally, each team will be in constant radio contact with the base.  Modern equipment, especially in the form of portable repeaters means that this ideal is being met more often today even in difficult and remote areas.

Can I help?

Yes- you can.  SAR needs people to be able to provide assistance to those in peril.  There are opportunities both in the field search teams and in support.   The fit and experienced tramper may prefer to be part of the field searchers, the less active may prefer a job at a hut to intercept wandering missing parties, while others may prefer to assist back at base with transport, record keeping, radio operation, and other tasks.  Training is an important part of SAR and will involve at the least attendance at a weekend SAREX or practice exercise.

It is not essential, but a big plus if you are available at short notice even during working hours.  A phone call in the evening may mean a 5 am start the next day...

Are you interested?  Contact the Club SAR organiser, Peter McKellar ( home phone 347 1154) for more information. 

See the NZ Land Search and Rescue site for more information and interesting links.