Bravery and community service honoured at NZ Search and Rescue Awards

On Tuesday 16 May 2023, the Hon Kiri Allan, Associate Minister for Transport presented the 2022 New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards.

These awards are presented annually in recognition of outstanding achievements within New Zealand’s search and rescue region, which covers 30 million square kilometres.

Awards given in the Operations category recognise significant rescue operations that took place between 1 January and 31 December 2022.

Awards given in the Support category recognise the contributions of individuals to search and rescue in New Zealand.

One Gold Award and up to four Certificates of Achievement are awarded in each category. Twenty-two nominations were received for 2022, with two Gold Awards and seven Certificates of Achievement being awarded at this year’s ceremony.

“The quality of this year’s Award winners is exceptional,” says New Zealand Search and Rescue Secretariat Director Duncan Ferner. “These people and groups represent the very best of the search and rescue sector in 2022.”

The awards ceremony was recorded and is available to view on the NZSAR YouTube Channel 

The Gold Award for Operational Activity was presented to Northern Rescue Helicopters, Northland Police SAR Squad, Police National Dive Squad, Maritime NZ Rescue Coordination Centre, the crew of Florence Nightingale, the crew of Pacific Invader and Kobe O’Neill, for the rescue of 10 people from the vessel Enchanter near North Cape / Otou between 20-21 March 2022.

The Gold Award for Support Activity was presented to John Munro of Locator Beacons New Zealand, for his commitment to search and rescue.

Four Certificates of Achievement for Operational Activity, and three Certificates of Achievement for Support Activity were also presented to worthy recipients during the ceremony.

For media enquiries

Tania Seward, Senior Advisor Communications, NZ Search and Rescue. 022 015 3863 / t.seward@nzsar.govt.nz