What We Do
Nearly 3000 people are assisted by the NZSAR sector every year. Many of these people owe their lives to the dedication and skill of the people who make up the sector.
Over 11,000 SAR trained people are directly involved in the NZSAR sector with a further 1500 working in support of them. People from all over New Zealand, and all walks of life, are involved in NZSAR.
Searches and rescues take place for a wide variety of people in all kinds of places throughout the region and occasionally beyond.
People in distress may be from international air or sea-going traffic in remote oceanic areas, domestic commercial air and coastal traffic, or New Zealand’s general aviation traffic.
They can also be people undertaking recreational pursuits in the rugged terrain, inland waterways or lakes of New Zealand, or in the coastal waters of any of the Pacific Island nations within the NZSRR.
While New Zealanders make up the great majority of those assisted, visitors to our country and region can also expect an effective SAR response should the need arise.
SAR coordinating authorities have access to over 250 vehicles, over 70 aircraft and nearly 345 vessels, all made available by partner SAR agencies. In addition, they can call upon many other assets of opportunity as the need arises.
