Government injects $77 million into NZ search and rescue, boosts aviation safety

The Government announced today it is putting an extra $77 million into the search and rescue sector. Photo / George Heard

The Government is injecting $77 million into the search and rescue sector and another $624,000 into aviation safety, in a bid to protect lives across land, sea and sky.

The funding will support 12 key organisations and bolster air safety measures at unattended aerodromes across the country.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager today confirmed $76.7m would be allocated to New Zealand Search and Rescue over three years.

Additionally, an investment of $624,000 over the same period is designated to maintain and improve recreational aviation safety across the country.

“NZ has one of the largest and most challenging search and rescue regions in the world, so it’s vital to ensure they have necessary funding to deliver their critical services,” Meager said, speaking from Dunedin this morning.

Associate Transport Minister James Meager announced the funding in Dunedin today. Photo / Mark Mitchell

“Last year, 152 lives were saved, 921 people were assisted and 794 people were rescued through the work of the search and rescue sector.

“This is thanks to the dedication of than 11,000 people involved in the industry – 80% of whom are volunteers.”

The NZ Aviation Federation will receive $542,000 to deliver updated Instrument Flight Procedures at unattended aerodromes, which pilots use to safely take off and land at airports across the country.

An $82,000 funding boost will also enhance safety at those sites, paying for further training and education to remind pilots of the necessary safety procedures.

“The investment also underlines the Government’s commitment to helping grow our economy by supporting a safe and secure recreational aviation system,” Meager said.

The Government’s funding package follows a triennial review by the Ministry of Transport, last completed in 2022, and builds on previous allocations under the Land Transport Management Act.

Among the recipients, Land Search and Rescue will receive the largest share at $30.1m, followed by Maritime NZ with $17.2m and Coastguard NZ with $11.3m.

Other funded groups include Surf Life Saving NZ ($8.3m), NZ Police ($795,000), and the Mountain Safety Council ($1.3m), with support also allocated to smaller regional and volunteer-led operations.

In the recreational aviation sector, $624,000 has been allocated over three years to maintain and improve Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs) at unattended aerodromes.

These navigation aids are essential for pilot safety and require regular updates, typically every five years.

The funding is capped by the amount of fuel excise duty collected from recreational aviation users.