NZLSAR Standards

Navigation competencies are briefly described on pages 36 and 37 of the New Zealand Land SAR Field Guide (Roger Curl, 1998. ISBN 0-473-04914-7). More detailed information can be found in the NZ Mountain Safety Council publication, 'Bushcraft', Outdoor Skills for the NZ Bush, Chapter 12, pages 66 to 91 (Goldring and Mullins, 3rd edition 1995, ISBN 0-908931-11-5). All WLSAR members should study these books.

Expected competencies

All WLSAR field team members must be able to demonstrate competent navigation skills. Because navigation is a skill WLSAR expects every team member to posess before joining the organisation, we do not provide formal navigation training. However, WLSAR conducts exercises designed to test members' competencies.

The minimum navigation skillset includes:

• map and compass use
• route finding (on and off piste)
• location awareness

Map use means being able to use an NZMS 260 1:50 000 topo map. This skill includes:

• orienting the map
• interpreting the map and relating it to the surroundings (and vice-versa)
• locating the current position on the topo map (and reporting it as a 6 digit grid reference)

Compass use means:

• Knowing the difference between grid north, true north and magnetic north
• Accounting for the magnetic variation or “offset”. (On the Wellington R27 map this is now about 23½ degrees from grid north) [hint - mark offset with twink/typex]
• The ability to operate an adjustable dial type of compass to obtain a “grid” bearing
• Following a compass bearing
• Knowing to keep the compass away from metallic or electrical items when taking a bearing (eg knives, radios, cameras, cellphones, GPS)
• Combined use with a map, taking and following bearings from the map, resection

Route finding includes:

• Planning a suitable route and identifying risks and hazards
• Interpreting the features that you observe and applying them to features on the map
• Being more careful when travelling down a spur or ridge (the terrain diverges)
• Use of handrails ie: follow features which lead to your destination
• Collecting features – tick things off which cross your direction of travel on way to destination
• Aiming off – deliberately set bearing to miss target but hit a handrail feature
• Intelligent use of animal tracks/trails (eg deer) in untracked country to aid progress..

Location awareness means knowing where you are at all times. This includes knowing where you have been, where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. WLSAR team members must be competent in assessing, interpreting and using:

• Landmarks or features
• Types of vegetation
• Location of the sun
• Wind direction
• Speed and direction of travel (account for speed difference over different types of terrain: account for vertical height gain per hour or vertical height loss per hour).