Emergency services to converge on Coromandel for search and rescue exercise

The waters off Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula will be a staging point for a multi-agency search and rescue exercise on Saturday.

Police, coastguards and surf lifesavers will stage a search and rescue exercise in the Coromandel this weekend.

Coastguard New Zealand confirmed it would have volunteers from Coastguard Whitianga, Coastguard Waihī Beach, Coastguard Tairua-Pāuanui and Coastguard Whangamatā involved on the water responding to a distress scenario from noon on Saturday, October 12.

“We would ask all skippers to keep well clear of the exercise so that the integrity of the search can be maintained,” a spokesman said.

In a statement, Coastguard Whitianga said the agencies would be conducting a combined on-water search and rescue exercise off Hot Water Beach.

A map issued by Coastguard Whitianga to mariners showing where the search and rescue exercise will be carried out on Saturday, October 12.

The on-water component would run from noon through to about 3.30pm.

It would involve multiple coastguard units and surf assets conducting set search patterns, in response to a distress scenario, up to two nautical miles off the coast.

Waikato police said in a statement it was taking part in the exercise alongside a number of agencies, including Coastguard New Zealand and Surf Lifesaving New Zealand.

“These types of exercises provide a valuable opportunity for agencies to come together to train, and to test plans/processes and new concepts in a safe environment; the exercise will involve water-based activities.

“These exercises could not happen without the support of our local communities, and we thank them for their co-operation and support.”

A police spokesperson said the Waikato Police District Search and Rescue team would be based out of the Whitianga Coastguard base for the exercise.

“The day will start with a desktop exercise where the management team will co-ordinate a plan to respond to the given scenario; in the afternoon the on-water teams will deploy.”

Coastguard Whitianga said a secondary exercise was scheduled for 2pm involving surf lifesaving assets, which would take place in the vicinity of Cathedral Cove.

“It may involve some on-water activity in the area immediately off the beach.”