Exercise test for volunteers

A volunteer is winched out during the search and rescue exercise. Photo / Stephen Parker

Iroquois flew above the Ureweras as 40 search and rescue volunteers scoured the bush for three missing hunters, in a rescue co-ordinated from the Murupara police station.

Luckily it was only an annual exercise and not the real thing, but practice makes perfect and could save lives in the future.

Constable Colin Fraser said the weekend's exercise was based on a real life scenario that occurred in the South Island last year where three hunters failed to come out of the bush and the alarm was raised. The location of the exercise was a remote area between Murupara and Waihou, where people frequently get lost.

Before being winched into the Ureweras on Saturday morning the volunteers were briefed and allocated various tasks including containment, making sure no one strayed out of the search area, tracking and looking for clues. The volunteers worked in teams of four.

The teams spent all Saturday searching for clues. They camped overnight before resuming the search at first light. Luckily the hunters were found by lunchtime yesterday none the worse for their ordeal.

Mr Fraser said having an annual exercise was an invaluable opportunity for search and rescue volunteers to hone their skills in a safe controlled environment.

"There are now 40 volunteers who have a greater knowledge of the area."

This weekend the volunteers ranged in age from teenagers to people in their 60s.

"They come from all walks of life, from schoolgirls to scientists."

For anyone interested there is a 12 week induction course which gives volunteers an overview of search and rescue operations.

The annual search and rescue exercise coincides with the end of the induction programme. For people identified as potential team leaders it was an opportunity for them to step up and practice skills. Mr Fraser said there were currently 60 marine and land based volunteers in the Rotorua area.