Background

Wellington Land SAR is a district organization and part of New Zealand Land SAR. Land Search and Rescue is one aspect of the New Zealand Search and Rescue scene. The primary Search and Rescue organizations in New Zealand include:

• New Zealand Police
• New Zealand Coastguard Federation
• New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Inc
• New Zealand Defence Forces
• Maritime Safety Authority
• Rescue Co-ordination Centre of New Zealand,

Until the beginning of 2003, SAR organisations operated relatively autonomously. The level of inter-agency contact varied considerably. However, the government determined a need for a more unified approach to SAR. As a result, these organisations are now being co-ordinated by an national body, the New Zealand SAR Council. The following section gives an explanation of the structure of SAR in New Zealand.

For more information see New Zealand Search and Rescue National Strategic Plan 2004 to 2014 (PDF 230KB)