The New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) Council has a mandate from the NZ government to provide strategic leadership to the New Zealand Search and Rescue Sector.

We help improve the overall co-ordination, cohesion, capability and leadership of search and rescue by working alongside the key organisations and individuals providing search and rescue services throughout New Zealand.

New Zealand's Search & Rescue Guidelines

NZ's SAR Guidelines are now available here. These guidelines provide the SAR sector with a single point of reference for conducting search and rescue operations. The guidelines will be updated and maintained through the Guidelines, Forms and Templates Management Group.

The Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) 3rd edition represents New Zealand’s official framework to achieve effective coordinated incident management across responding agencies. 

From 1 July 2020 the 3rd edition replaces all previous versions of CIMS. Click here for CIMS 3rd edition, and here to get an overview of the changes from the 2nd edition.

CIMS Role Profiles, describing the tasks that are performed within each function area, are available here.

New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards - nominations 

Nominations for the 2019 NZSAR Awards can be made now - nomination forms are available here.

NZSAR Strategic Plan

The New Zealand Search and Rescue Strategic Plan for 2017-20 is available here. 

Volunteer Study 2019