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

The 4th New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Conference

The 4th New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Conference
21 – 23 November 2008.

Massey University, Palmerston North
New Zealand .

Northland Search and Rescue have been successful in obtaining funding to send several members to this years Annual NZ Land Search and Rescue conference in Palmerston North.

Missing Man Located – July 2008

Whangärei Police have located a missing 32-year-old Tikipunga man, who has a serious medical condition. The man was last seen at his Tikipunga home at 4 pm yesterday. He suffers from epilepsy and has seizures everyday. As a result of the constant seizures he has slow speech and needs to take medication up to three times a day.

Icom F50v VHF Portable Radio

The Icom F50v waterproof type approved VHF portable radio with waterproof Speaker Microphone is ideal for Search and Rescue operations in all conditions.

The very feature packed ‘sophisticated’ radio is very simple to operate and is proving itself to be extremely reliable.

Team Members Gear List

Recommended SAR Kit; Pack for at least two days.

You should have everything in your SAR kit, already packed, ready to go. If possible, pack your gear in a medium sized comfortable pack and line your pack with a large plastic bag or pack liner.

Packs:
– It is advisable to have a small rope loop securely attached to the top of your pack to enable it to be clipped to a helicopter grabbit hook or winch.
– Avoid having gear hanging from your pack or a pack that is too high.

Training Guide v2

2006 NLSAR Training Guide v2

The NZLSAR Field Guide has proved to be an extremely popular and useful guide for all those involved in Land SAR. The First Edition was reprinted to meet the
demand. However, changes to the management structure for SAR operations with the introduction of CIMS; changes to the radio section (especially the VHF frequencies) and the Searching section to reflect more modern search techniques as well as number of corrections to the First Edition has resulted in this, the Second Edition of the Field Guide.

Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx Information including Manual

Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx Owners Manual
Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx Quick Reference Manual

Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx
Northland SAR purchased their first Garmin GPSMap60CSx in July 2006.
The group now have Eight Garmin 60CSx units and have a longer term plan of building the numbers to Twelve units.

The Garmin GPS Map 60 CSx has become very popular among New Zealand Land Search and Rescue groups.

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.