About Land Search and Rescue
Land Search and Rescue is a national volunteer organisation which provides search and rescue assistance to the lost, missing and injured across New Zealand.
Our volunteers operate in suburban, urban, wilderness and rural areas including regional and forest parks, shorelines and caves. Our unpaid professionals offer their specialist search and rescue skills free to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the New Zealand Police and the Rescue Coordination Centre.
We have over 3,000 trained search and rescue volunteers who are members of 64 local groups covering the length and breadth of New Zealand. There are also specialist disciplines such as Land Search and Rescue Dogs, CaveSAR, CanyonSAR, Alpine Cliff Rescue (ACR) and RiverSAR who operate on a local level where there is a requirement for these specialist skills.
The Land Search and Rescue Board is the governance body of the organisation and comprises of independent and elected Directors. The Board appoints the Chief Executive who delivers an annual management plan to support the Board’s strategies. He is supported by a small team of salaried National Support Staff.
From July 2022 to June 2023 volunteers donated over 102,627 hours to Search and Rescue activities, bringing home 399 people.
Land Search and Rescue Vision statement:
Rapa Taiwhenua Moemoeā
We are Land Search and Rescue – everywhere for everyone.
Land Search and Rescue Mission:
Rapa Taiwhenua Tō Mua
Providing land search and rescue assistance to the lost, missing, injured and their communities.
Land Search and Rescue Purpose statement:
Rapa Taiwhenua Pūtake Kōrero
Land Search and Rescue’s primary purposes are to:
1. Provide effective and efficient land search and rescue capability throughout Aotearoa New Zealand in collaboration with the New Zealand Police, Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, and other agencies as required, consistent with New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Inc. approved standards.
2. Further the safety and education of the public of Aotearoa New Zealand in matters related to search and rescue.
3. Provide education, training and assessment in land-based search and rescue and emergency management.
Our Board
The Board comprises of elected directors chosen by the Land Search and Rescue membership and appointed directors…
Our National Support Staff
A team spread across the country to support Land Search and Rescue groups in providing Search and Rescue assistance for the lost, missing and injured…
Annual Conference
Our bi-annual members conference has a fantastic schedule of talks and events.
Safer Walking
This Framework has been formed over the past decade in response to people with cognitive impairments who go missing while out walking with potentially very poor outcomes.
The Search Process
A frantic mother phones the Police; her four year old twins have found a hole in the garden fence and disappeared into the surrounding bush…
Thanks to our funding partners & sponsors
