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

Lost girl found after night in the bush XMAS DAY 2008 CALLOUT

Lost girl found after night in the bush – 25 Dec 2008

‘Intellectually disabled girl missing for 14 hours until found in bush in Whangarei spent Christmas Day in hospital’.

A successful operation involving both Northland Search and Rescue members and Police SAR squad members resulted from a good response from all those people who were contacted on Xmas Day.

100% of all Northland land search members who were contactable, decided to put family Xmas celebrations on hold to join the search for Tabitha. This shows the dedication and motivation of the team.

Only 406MHz distress beacons will be monitored by satellite from 1st Feb 2009

Only 406MHz distress beacons will be monitored by satellite from 1st Feb 2009.

How will a 406MHz distress beacon help save your life?

* Only 406MHz distress beacons will be monitored by satellite from Feb 1.
* It’s faster. Once activated, the signal from a 406MHz distress beacon is picked up almost instantly by satellite.

The satellites supporting the old 121.5MHz and 243MHz distress beacons could take several hours to determine your location in some cases hours too late.

November and early-mid December quiet for callouts and standbys for SAR, but Land SAR activity still occurring.

What happens behind the scene and often out of ‘public eye’.

4 year old Female, 5 year Male missing – 30th Oct 2008

30th Oct 2008

Two young children, a 4 year old Female & a 5 year Male went missing from a house, on the edge of a patch of bush at Ruakaka.

SAR activated.

Overdue Pighunter Located

20th Oct 2008
A Overdue Pighunter Located was located after becomming overdue and sparking off a search and rescue callout in the Taipuha area, southwest of Whangarei.

Overdue Pig Hunter Located – Oct 2008

Family concerns for a Taipuha man out pig hunting on the back of a family farm and who failed to return the night before sparks search and rescue callout.

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.