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Wairarapa Search and Rescue Incorporated

  • 2023 in retrospect

      1 April 2024
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface
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    We had a total of eleven operations during the year, mostly over with 24 hours, but one that lasted 7 days, involving 690 hours of volunteer time. The person involved is still missing, Police are awaiting further information before any further searching.

    A total of 1100 operational hours were put in by volunteers, with an equal number of hours spent training.

    Beacons are becoming the most frequent call for help (5), with landline and SAT phones also being used.

    Most field team members have also been able to receive training with the RNZAF NH90 helicopter, a very useful resource that we have made use of three times in the last 6 months.

    2024 has started with three operations so far.

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  • Training in the snow & Ice

      15 August 2022
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface
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    After regular falls of snow in the Tararuas recently a team of 5 SAR members took the opportunity to refresh their alpine skills. After being flown to High Ridge by Amalgamated Helicopters they donned crampons, walked up to Holdsworth Trig, then along to East Holdsworth for some self arresting practice, before walking back to the Holdsworth car park.

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  • Team assist Wellington Search & Rescue

      15 August 2022
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface

    Last Thursday 4 volunteers and a Police officer traveled to the Kapiti coast to assist Wellington SAR in a search for a missing person. After a few hours knocking on residents doors and searching grounds, the team spent the rest of the day searching an area of mixed open ground, blackberry, and native trees.

    Nothing of interest was found. The good news is that the missing person was found on the Friday, and is safe and well.

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  • A late night for some

      20 December 2021
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface

    Sunday 19 December While most were probably heading for sleep, a team of 6 Wairarapa SAR members were tasked to reach an injured person near Walls Whare in the Tararua Forest Park.

    About 9.30pm Police received a call to assist a tramper with an injured leg, the team assembled in Masterton at 10.30. Reaching the person about midnight they assessed their condition and were able to make them comfortable in a stretcher. It then took about an hour for the 500m carry to the road end where they met an ambulance. Everyone was home by 3pm for a few hours sleep.

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  • Another rescure near Dundas in the Tararuas

      19 May 2018
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface

    On April 16 we were asked to provide a team to assist Horowhenua SAR to locate two missing persons who had activated a personal locator beacon. Around midnight an Air Force NH 90 helicopter collected a team of 5 and flew them in to near Dundas hut in strong winds. As the team neared the hut the missing persons were located and three of our members went to assist in bringing them back to the hut, a slow walk in the wind with the rescued very weak. It was very cosy, with 10 people in a 6 bunk hut. It was nearly 30 hours later before the rescued pair were warm enough to be moved and the weather cleared enough for Amalgamated Helicopters to fly everyone out. Another two days off work for some.

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  • Skills Refresher Training

      6 March 2018
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface
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    On a warm sunny day in March members of Wairarapa SAR gathered for a day to refresh skills in operating around helicopters, river crossing and survival, search methods and radio use.

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  • Rescue on the Tararua Tops in bad weather

      6 March 2018
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface
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    With a rescue helicopter unable to fly Wairarapa SAR were asked to respond to a Personal Locator Beacon activation high in the Tararuas near West Peak.

    A team of 6 made their way to Herepai hut, then four continued in wind, recorded nearby at 130km/hr, and rain. Sometime crawling to avoid the worst of the wind the team reached the rescue site at 1.30am. After making the tramper comfortable they all tried to rest, not much hope of sleep in the conditions. Come dawn, with it still too windy to fly, the party slowly made their way to Herepai hut for a rest, and a Medic to check over the tramper, before walking out.

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  • Beacon activation response

      21 April 2015
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface

    A group tramping near Jumbo hut became disorientated in mist, a member suffering from possible hypothermia. They set off a locator beacon, due to weather a helicopter could not reach them. A team of 4 volunteers walked in in bad weather, located the missing party, guided them to Jumbo hut and eventually out to the road end. Operation time 18 hours.

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  • March 7 Most recent Operation

      24 March 2015
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface

    The weather prevented a helicopter flying so the Rescue Coordination Centre asked Wairarapa SAR to send a team to investigate a locator beacon activation.

    As the team was about to leave our base a helicopter was able to fly in to the area and bring out in injured tramper.

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  • Recent Training

      24 March 2015
    Posted by: Nigel Boniface

    February 1 team members to refresh skills with GPS handheld units, VHF radio's, and search method skills

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