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 Rules

Northland Search and Rescue RULES

Waipu Caves Rescue of School Party Close thing

Cave Rescue, Flooded Waipu Caves – School Party – Sept 2007

Seven members of the Cave Rescue team with most of the Police SAR squad, NZ Fire, & St. John Ambulance responded to Waipu Caves to rescue SIX teenage students from Northcote College along with TWO adults from a flooded cave resulting from rain deluge. This was originally a party of TWELVE with two instructors with only part of the group managing to exit before the flood waters came up blocking the exit.

These EIGHT were underground since approx. 09:00 and had been trapped at approx. 14:00hrs. Cave entry by Northland SAR Cave Team was not obtained until approx. 18:30.

Rescue at Waipu Caves – Sept 2007

A group of terrified teenagers had to dive underwater in pitch darkness to escape a flooded cave during a dramatic rescue near Waipu last night. Rescuers battled for four hours to save the Auckland students who were trapped by a rapidly rising underground stream.

Cliff Rescue Sept 2007

Cliff Rescue Sept 2007 – German Tourist

Three members of the Cliff Rescue team (Shane Cleary, Glenn Hawke, & Kevin Bell)with Four members of the Police SAR squad responded rescued a 28 yr old German tourist, who was walking around the end of Tapeka Point near Russell in the BOI who got caught out with an incoming tide.

Marine Coastal SAR Sept 2007

Marine Coastal SAR Sept 2007 time waster.
-Chief: Lives put needlessly at risk

A full-scale air, sea and land search – costing around $10,000 – was mounted on Sunday in four-metre seas and 30 to 40-knot nor-easterly winds after family members thought two men and a woman were lost at sea after failing to return from a fishing trip.

About 60 members of the Northland Land Search and Rescue squad, including police officers and civilian volunteers, were at Bland Bay on an annual training exercise when the alarm was raised over the trio about 9.30am on Sunday.

Two search teams in the area – some members being blown off their feet in the gusty winds – found the camping trio.

81 year old male suffering dementia – June 2007

81 year old male suffering dementia SAR – 28-06-2007

An 81 year old male suffering dementia walked out of his rest home between 0600 and 0645 hours. Rest home staff had searched for him till about 0900 hours then called the police.
Local Waipu police and Highway patrol units searched for him on the roads till 1200 hours.

Police and Northland SAR were then activated and searched on foot till 2030 hours. Intensive searching was continued for the next three days.

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.