Search & Rescue Resources

NLSAR have a hard working committee which over the last several years have led to an increase of resources through successful community grants and some sponsorship. This has included going throughout the community talking to and presenting a slideshow presentation which has resulted in purchase of some resource which include Swazi protective outdoor clothing, other hi-vis clothing, Garmin Mapping GPS’s, and a caravan.

It is still interesting to note that currently (Aug 2008), approx. 99% of the specialist cliff/cave rescue squad members gear is personally owned. This is an area, the committee are looking to address in the very near future.

Support from those organization listed on our ‘home’ and ‘donations’ pages are crucial to NLSAR effectiveness in search and rescue operations.

Visit our SAR Resources page

Northland Search and Rescue Profile

Northland Land Search and Rescue [NLSAR] is a professional unpaid, not for profit, volunteer based group that provides specialist cliff face rescue and cave rescue teams who cover all of the Northland area, which stretches from Kaiwaka in the south to North Cape at the top of New Zealand, and provides a land search and rescue capability for the Lower Northland Police Area for all SAR Op’s within the Whangarei, Kaipara districts. NLSAR also provides additional Resources for Far North LSAR Group who attend Land/Bush Operation’s in Far North Police Area.

Omahuta Forest trio found safe and well. July 2009

Police are defending a Northland pig hunter who spent two bitterly cold nights lost in the bush with two children.

Specialist Cliff Rescue Team on SARINZ Vertical Rope rescue course APRIL 09

Northland Search and Rescue Cliff/Cave Rescue Team recently attended a Search and Rescue Institute New Zealand Vertical Rope Rescue course. This course is working towards a nationally recognized standard across technical rescue teams in the New Zealand Land SAR sector.

Cape Brett Challenge (Weekend) – April 2009 by Dave Yeo

Cape Brett Challenge (Weekend) – April 2009 by Dave Yeo.

The end of the working week was going to be a busy one with all of us meeting at Jenny’s house to head north for our day of making sure people were safe. I was told there was a runner down. A decision was made to call in NEST (‘Northland Emergency Services Trust’ Rescue Helicopter).

Mt Mania Rescue, 65 year old located safe and well APRIL 09

A 65 year old lady tramping with a friend in the My Mania reserve got separated after stopping for a rest. Locating the lost party around 03:00 hours tired but safe and well.

Landsar CEO Hyden SMITH visit to Whangarei confirmed for Thursday 19th March

Landsar CEO Hyden SMITH visit to Whangarei confirmed for Thursday 19th March. There is a general meeting for all Northland and Far North land search and rescue members to attend. North Island field officer Ian Newman is also visiting with Hyden.

NLSAR train every second Thursday evening of the month. These sessions vary considerably and practice skills include Navigation using Map & Compass, GPS, radio communications, search methods, tracking, first aid, caving, and rope skills. In addition, there is at least one full weekend annual search and rescue exercise (SAREX) and several SARINZ weekend training courses. Every member of NLSAR are expected to become proficient with an accepted set of base skills of a standard, and over time become SARINZ certified in Tracking (Track & Clue Awareness), Search Methods, and Outdoor First Aid as a minimum. This is typically at no, or minimal cost and the SARINZ modules count towards ‘New Zealand Diploma in Search’ qualification.

This is to be certain that our members have the knowledge, skills and experience required to effectively participate in a search or rescue operation and can therefore be relied on to operate efficiently and safely.

Northland Search and Rescue (NLSAR) are always interested in talking to people who may be keen to join us, support our group, or even promote who we are.

Prospective members are generally people who are over the age of eighteen years old, have an interest in the outdoors, have some level of fitness, a desire to help others, be able to work as part of a team, and above all, have values which include integrity, and honesty. There are a limited number of other support roles which does not require quite so high a level of fitness. NLSAR operate 24/7 (24hours/day 7 days/week), frequently in stormy arduous conditions in the middle of the night.

NLSAR are always keen to talk to those that are interested in supporting our quest to help others & save lives. We are a professional unpaid, not for profit, volunteer based search and rescue group that provides specialist skills to assist NZ Police save lives in any conditions, anywhere, anytime within Northland. We recognize those who support us by promoting them whenever we can.

Our team are the ones that frequently appear, do the job or task, and then disappear without recognition especially in the middle of the night in a storm. Our focus is on a quick successful resolution in the best way we can.