Police thank rescue helicopter crew after missing Manutūkē woman found

A Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter crew member with thermal binoculars with heat-seeking technology. The crew helped find a woman who was missing this week in Gisborne. Photo / Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter

A successful search for a vulnerable woman involving “hundreds of people” has been praised as “a powerful reminder” of what can be achieved when a community comes together.

A police spokeswoman said the police received a report at 7.25pm on Wednesday, after a woman was reported missing from her home in Manutūkē. She was located uninjured near her home about 10.30pm.

“An extensive search was carried out, supported by the woman’s family and other community members. Police are also very grateful for the assistance of the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter crew, who used their specialist thermal technology to conduct an aerial search, providing invaluable assistance to the searchers on the ground,” the spokeswoman said.

Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter, in a statement, said “the sight of hundreds of people across Manutūkē last night searching for a vulnerable person” was “incredible”.

The rescue helicopter was dispatched by police about 8.40pm to assist with the large-scale community search.

“Using specialist thermal technology – high-tech, heat-seeking thermal binoculars funded by the generous support of the Tairāwhiti community last year – the crew were able to conduct an aerial search across fields, crops and orchards, and along riverbanks that would have been difficult to cover from the ground,“ the statement said.

Pilot Shaun Stewart, aircrew officer Joe Gibbs and critical care paramedic Johnathon King said witnessing the scale of the community response from the air was remarkable.

“The sight from above of so many people out on the streets, drains and paddocks with torches and headlights was incredible,” they said.

“Thermal technology allows us to clearly identify stock, animals, people and other heat sources in the dark. It’s an invaluable tool that significantly enhances our ability to search safely and effectively at night, alongside our standard night-vision goggles.

“As a community rescue helicopter service, we simply couldn’t do this without the backing of our region. Thanks to that support, we have this life-saving technology and can respond 24/7 to emergencies across Tairāwhiti.”

Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter said it played a vital role in connecting remote and rural communities with urgent medical care and specialist rescue capability.

“Last night’s search was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together – both on the ground and in the air.”