He toku tū moana

"Recently I came across this whakataukī which means ‘a rock standing steadfast in the ocean’." Says NZSAR Secretariat Director, Duncan Ferner. "The events of the last year have felt like a storm at times – devastating weather events and a substantial increase in search and rescue operations – however it seems to me that our sector has stood firm like a rock against these challenges, and I have every confidence we will continue to do so."

Between 1 July 2022 and 31 June 2023, the commitment and dedication of our search and rescue sector saw 1,130 people assisted, 744 people rescued and most importantly, 137 lives saved.

In the report, you’ll read about what it’s like to be involved in search and rescue from both paid staff and volunteers. You’ll see the impact of increased Government funding, which has enabled us to become a more capable and resilient sector. You’ll also read about how our training programme has increased the skills of the thousands of volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise.

"I hope this report aids your understanding of our sector, and the New Zealand Search and Rescue Council’s direction of travel," says Duncan.

You can download the NZSAR Council 2022-23 Annual Report from our website.

Hard copies can be provided on request to info@nzsar.govt.nz